tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40041706692161774242024-02-19T07:28:23.883-08:00From Where I'm StandingEricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-37153721857074411942016-09-05T21:09:00.000-07:002016-09-25T22:19:04.634-07:00Labour Day Weekend in Vancouver and WhistlerFor Labor Day (or Labour Day, as it is called in Canada), we took a second annual trip north to Vancouver, British Columbia to check out the famous ski area, Whistler, and the alpine summer hiking that can be accessed from the resort chair lifts. Taking the gondola from the base ski area, it saved our legs the ~4000 feet ascent, putting us at treeline for the start of the hike. We thought it would be a flat-lined and easy hike from here, but we were in for a humbling surprise. The remaining 16 miles were a near constant roller coaster of elevation and emotions as we trudged up and over mountain flanks to see a tiny scribble of the trail proceeding up and over the next distant peak. Each time, I thought to myself that the connecting trail we could see must be a mountaineering path that splintered off to reach the mountain summit. I was sadly mistaken as an hour later I found myself looking back to the former location from the once distance neighboring mountain flank.<br />
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The trails, dubbed maliciously as a combination of "The Musical Bumps" and "High Note," were rated as some of the most scenic in the Western British Columbia region. However, 2016 was the year summer forgot the Pacific Northwest, leaving us shrouded in a low cloud layer and inconsistent mizzle and mist. Fortunately, a fast-moving, low-lying cloud layer is a photographer's delight as they somehow manage to give mountains an even mightier pose and enhanced mysteriousness. <br />
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Ride up in the Whistler Express gondola</div>
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Craig trudging up Pika's Traverse trail at the start of the trip</div>
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Blanketed in a cloud </div>
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Although we couldn't see the eye-popping peaks around us, the clouds made for pretty dramatic photos</div>
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Mini rock man on the trail.</div>
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More clouds as we make our way down the first of 3 Musical "Bumps" (Piccolo, Flute, and Oboe). </div>
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Loving life at treeline</div>
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Marching our way of peak 3 of the "bumps." I believe this was Oboe. </div>
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We've finally almost arrived at our camp site for the night at the base of Mt. Fissle.</div>
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When we planned the trip, we had a dream of staying in an established wood hut that holds up to 12 campers. I imagined with the bad weather might have to share the space with, at most, 3 people. Again, the story I told myself and the reality of the trip diverged when we rounded the last corner to see a slew of humans buzzing around the hut like a beehive and about 10 other tents already established in prime spots nearby. I'm very thankful that we brought our tent as a backup plan. </div>
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The evening got cold FAST and after setting up the tent, we spent nearly the entire night inside drinking whiskey and reading National Geographic. </div>
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Looking out of the tent at the adorable mountain hut. </div>
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Due to the cold, we spent the evening in the tent until the setting sun and low clouds put on an irresistible show. </div>
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Sunset on the camps. </div>
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Sunset on Mt. Fissle with out tent in the front left.</div>
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Did I mention it was cold? I went into full caterpillar mode. </div>
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The following morning, the clouds parted for several minutes to reveal the peaks around us. The brief vista was quickly obscured as we watched the next round of thick, low layers gracefully spill over the ridge face.<br />
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How cute is this hut?! It belongs in the Swiss Alps!</div>
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We were also briefly treated to a glimpse of this MASSIVE GLACIER! This is Cheakamus Glacier and she's a beaut!</div>
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Photos don't do Cheakamus Glacier any justice in telling the story of just how wide it is!</div>
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So many beautiful shades of green and blue.</div>
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On the home stretch to return to the gondola for a relaxing sub-alpine ride down the mountain. I love the contrast between the red and gray of the peak in the background. </div>
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The second to last climb before the gondola is the wall in front of us. </div>
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While I felt the description and other reviews of the trail were misleading regarding just how continuously steep this trail is and I was bummed that we didn't get the full effect of wowing peaks (seriously guys, Google the magnificent views this place boasts when it's cloud-free), I really enjoyed the experience we had. The low, swirling clouds, although effective in reducing our visibility to 50 feet in some instances, also gave us the equally beautiful nebulous and mystical perspective and reminded me that it's the dynamic aspect of mountain environments that draws me to these places. </div>
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We made it! On the gondola and back on to Vancouver.</div>
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The remainder of the weekend was filled with city relaxing in our fancy-pants hotel (which is especially appreciated after a few days in the mountains), ramen, and the musical 'The Book of Mormon.' Labour Day success!</div>
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Outside of Japan, Vancouver is the place to be for ramen! </div>
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So good! </div>
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The Book of Mormon </div>
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View from our hotel room </div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comWhistler, BC V0N, Canada50.1163196 -122.9573563000000149.9533676 -123.28007980000001 50.279271599999994 -122.63463280000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-10489255258586308752016-06-05T21:32:00.000-07:002016-07-17T21:37:01.114-07:00Cycling Sunrise Road, Mt. RainierWith crossed-fingers, Craig and I decided to cycle Sunrise Road on Mt. Rainier before it was scheduled to open for cars in several weeks. We called the Mt. Rainier ranger station, but they gave us no useful information concerning how far the plows had cleared the snow. Not sure sure how far we would be permitted to go, we took the risk figuring that we would at least get a small climb in. <br />
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We were in luck--all 14 miles and 3263 feet of elevation gain were clear! Although it was a constant uphill slog, it was a beautiful ride with a speedy downhill. Speaking of speeding downhills...this ride also taught me a very good lesson about speed checking and having a heightened awareness of surroundings during a decent. As I began to make my way down the flank of Rainier, an elk ran out in front of me when I was going about 35mph! It was a terrifying experience, but through a combination of my shrill screams, clamping down on my breaks, and him tripping over his own feet to bolt out of the road as fast as he could, no one was hurt. I used to love the feeling of cruising fast after a long climb, but I think I'll think twice about my speeds after that near-miss. <br />
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Coming around the bend! </div>
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Craig riding on the car-free road. </div>
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We finally get to some small snow banks on the roadside. </div>
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Mt. Rainier in the background. </div>
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Almost there! </div>
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Woo! We made it! </div>
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Mt. Rainier</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comMount Rainier National Park, Washington 98304, USA46.8799663 -121.7269094000000146.8552663 -121.76724990000001 46.9046663 -121.68656890000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-23658792135432136402016-05-30T16:07:00.000-07:002016-07-16T17:23:35.830-07:00Weekend at the Hyatt Ziva, San Jose del CaboNot one for resorts, I was skeptical of our planned getaway to the all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. As someone who's idea of "relaxed" is being exhausted after my energy has been drained from being outside all day, I was honestly worried that I would get bored. I couldn't have been more wrong!<br />
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Although the resort was certainly missing a night-life scene (you won't find any dance clubs or trendy bars here), it was overflowing with details to entice you to unwind and de-stress. There were multiple pools (and one with a swim-up bar), ample amounts of comfy deck furniture on shaded balcony areas, a tequila bar tucked away under a waterfall and staircase, massage parlors, and quiet areas on the beach to stare out at the ocean while a cabana boy continuously refills your drink. It also helped that hotel facilities were gorgeous and I seriously wanted to buy everything in the hotel room for our own house!<br />
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Because it was all-inclusive, we never had to pay for anything once we were on the hotel property. Aside from our first night, where I received an under-cooked fish (yuck!), most of the food was pretty good. For drinks, the wait-staff defaulted to cheap alcohol, but if requested, they would pour top shelf booze at not extra charge! Winning!<br />
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Even though I don't think I'll be making a habit out of resort stays, I definitely understand why some people do. Everything was simply so easy!<br />
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We arrive!</div>
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The open-air lobby</div>
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Loving this simple desert-inspired room!</div>
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First thing's first...let's eat cheese and get some Tecate in these champagne glasses. </div>
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View from the room. Note the swim-up bar on the far side of the pool. </div>
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These elevator mirrors were just begging for a dance party every time we left the room.</div>
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More views around the hotel.</div>
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The pool at night.</div>
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I had hoped to swim or snorkel in the ocean while we were here, but the violent shore-break and strong rip currents left something to be desired. </div>
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One second you're on dry land....</div>
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The next minute, you're in ocean up to your waist.</div>
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I <span class="st">♥ the</span> swash zone.</div>
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Doing some beach reconnaissance work</div>
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Remember that swim-up bar I mentioned? It was awesome!</div>
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Tequila--it's not just for margaritas or shots. Here we are getting schooled on sipping tequila.</div>
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Some of the best food we had at the hotel came from this pool-side taco cart.<br />
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Most of the people at the resort were laying out in the harsh sun all day. I'm not sure how they didn't combust into flames from the intense heat and blazing sun rays. Craig and I could be found under an umbrella guessing the length of everyone's stay based on the saturation of their sunburn. </div>
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Craig in the infinity pool.</div>
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Palms</div>
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Post-dinner beaching</div>
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Fireside chatting </div>
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Our day out in San Jose del Cabo. I was really looking forward to getting out of the resort and seeing the actual city and its people, but I have to admit, it left something to be desired. Although it was quaint and adorned with colorful buildings, they were mostly filled with art studios and tourist shops that I wasn't interested in seeing. I have to admit that we didn't do much planning ahead for our day out so maybe we missed a section of town that better represented the city. Adding to our disappointment may have been the insanely hot day that caused us to be swimming in our own sweat and out of water by the time we walked to the city center. </div>
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The Mission of San Jose del Cabo</div>
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To break up the beach-sitting and pool-swimming we tried out the facility's basketball and tennis courts. We only played both sports for about 2 hours before rushing back to the pool activities. Have I mentioned how hot it was in Cabo?</div>
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<br />Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comSan José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico23.0636562 -109.702437622.9467912 -109.8637991 23.1805212 -109.5410761tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-55829654270011404062016-05-01T21:30:00.000-07:002016-07-16T15:51:05.029-07:00Cycling Mt. Constitution, Orca IslandCraig and I finally checked off riding our bikes to the top of Mt. Constitution, Orcas Island. It was a beautiful ride with a nice mid-point stop with lots of restaurants and cafes to fuel up before the big climb. Once we reached the summit, the views that greeted us lived up to their reputation. The scene was an expansive sea of blue dotted with heavily vegetated green islands and backed by a ridge of white mountain peaks on the horizon. As usual, the San Juan Islands did not disappoint and I look forward to a return trip!<br />
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Nesting birds at the ferry terminal</div>
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Wood carving outside of the Historical Museum. </div>
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View from the top of Mt. Constitution. Mt. Baker is the white peak in the background.</div>
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We made it!</div>
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Tide going out on the ride back to the ferry. </div>
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Departing Orcas Island for Seattle on the ferry. </div>
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Sunset on Mt. Baker from the ferry. </div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comOrcas Island, Washington, USA48.6330816 -122.9289822000000148.4652466 -123.2517057 48.800916599999994 -122.60625870000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-17807406229302127572016-04-24T20:23:00.000-07:002016-05-14T16:31:30.157-07:00Weekend in San Diego, CABack in late winter when Seattle was consistently dark and rainy, Craig and I were California dreamin'. Needing some sunshine to look forward to, we booked a weekend trip to a place with arguably some of the best weather in the country--San Diego!<br />
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Who is that fly girl with the cool sunglasses and animal cookies?</div>
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Although we only had a few days, it was enough time to get a lot of sun, beaches, and a glimpse of the southern California state of mind. The people watching was priceless. It was not uncommon to see a group of girls dressed to the nines with high heels and expensive clothes only to be followed up by shoeless, shirtless skateboarders. The contrasts were extreme.<br />
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Speaking of extreme, the bluff erosion was the worst I've seen. In contrast to many of the common basalt cliffs in the Pacific Northwest, San Diego's bluffs are composed of soft sedimentary rock. The deep scours on the bluff face and along the toe was a strong reminder that these landforms are being attacked from many fronts. Rain, wind, and waves carve away little bits of the cliff every day. The imminent danger posed to the quickly approaching homes, roads, and infrastructure is an obvious and loud reminder of how dynamic this environment truly is. <br />
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Getting a first glimpse of the rapidly eroding cliffs.</div>
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The sea and me</div>
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Wave undercutting</div>
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Craig is like a sedimentary rock--he's got a lot of layers. Get it? Get it?!</div>
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The lonely boulder</div>
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San Diego coastline near Point Loma</div>
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While at Point Loma, we unexpectedly walked through the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. With over 100,000 gravesites overlooking the sea, it was a quite a spectacle </div>
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Sunset Cliffs living up to its name.<br />
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Sunset Cliffs living up to its name. Oh, and check out all that erosion!</div>
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Sunset Cliffs living up to its name.<br />
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The Jenga master. Other things I am include the palest person in the room. <br />
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Craig getting defeated!<br />
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Drinking beers and listening to Coachella streamed live at Culture Brewing</div>
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I think the dogs might have outnumbered the people at the dog beach section of Ocean Beach.</div>
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Seastack</div>
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Big waves trying to take out some not-so-very-smart-spectators.<br />
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Well done, San Diego. You provided just the change in scenery (and weather) we needed for the weekend! </div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comSan Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-36623000431069083432016-04-17T21:23:00.000-07:002016-05-14T15:17:57.213-07:00Weekend in Spokane, WAWhen we found out Craig would be visiting a job site in Spokane and that my company has an office nearby, we loaded up the bikes and made a weekend out it! As a first-timer in Spokane, I didn't have many expectations, but with a motto of, 'Near Nature, Near Perfect,' how could I not get excited?!<br />
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We were, admittedly, off to a rough start when we made the 4.5 hour commute out east riding in a F350 diesel work truck. As a tip, those trucks are not meant for highway travel! I imagine it having a similar bounciness as trotting on a horse.<br />
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The city of Spokane was very industrial, but had a vibe of revitalization with new breweries and small businesses popping up regularly. We both really enjoyed the size of the city and its proximity to outdoor recreation, Idaho, and the Palouse. The Palouse is a hilly, agricultural area that owes its fertile soil to wind-blown organic sediment that blew east for thousands of years. It creates a unique landscape perfect for a challenging cycling experience!<br />
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Craig riding on a gravel road the Palouse </div>
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Same 'ol scenery as far as the eyes can see.</div>
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Glacial loess turned to agriculture land</div>
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Plowed</div>
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One of the few buildings along the ride.</div>
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Roadside yellow flowers.</div>
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The castle we stayed in</div>
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Did I mention that there was a massive river (the Spokane River) flowing through the middle of the city??! At times it is a slow trickle, but we were in luck! With fresh snow melt, the dams had recently opened the floodgates and to say that it was an impressive flow was an understatement! </div>
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The river was running!</div>
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So much river!</div>
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On the drive home, we made a quick stop at the Columbia River. The Spokane flows into this river where it eventually discharges into the Pacific Ocean.</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comSpokane, WA, USA47.6587802 -117.426046647.487706200000005 -117.7487701 47.8298542 -117.10332310000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-68478285556708503542016-04-10T15:05:00.000-07:002016-04-10T15:05:43.002-07:00Afternoon on Vashon IslandOne of my favorite things about living in West Seattle is the easy access to Vashon Island. It's a piece of rural paradise just west of Seattle that is only accessible by ferry. Fortunately for us, we're about 1.5 miles from the ferry station so we can easily hop on our bikes and be on the island within 30-40 minutes. Every time I visit, I find something different. With distilleries, wineries, coffee roasters, strawberry festivals, cideries, a lighthouse, and beautiful small farm landscapes backed by volcano views, it's hard not to find something to love.<br />
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After a long, rainy winter, spring is finally starting to arrive in Seattle, allowing the perfect opportunity for an afternoon bike ride on the island. Ah, how I've missed this place!<br />
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Ferrying to Vashon </div>
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Biking on the rural roads </div>
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Chocolate cupcakes at Snapdragon </div>
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East Indian pancakes, pupusas, and local ciders at Snapdragon! </div>
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More views along the ride.</div>
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Tying up the steads on the ferry ride home. </div>
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Beautiful spring day in Seattle </div>
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Me with Mt. Rainier in the background </div>
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Looking down from the 2nd deck of the ferry </div>
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West Seattle ferry station</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comVashon, WA 98070, USA47.4473204 -122.459850247.275421900000005 -122.7825737 47.6192189 -122.13712670000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-29737677968168198832016-04-03T14:34:00.000-07:002016-04-10T14:35:44.036-07:00Emerald City Bike RideFor a few hours this weekend, two Seattle freeways were open to bikes only! As a part of the first time-offered Emerald City Bike Ride, 7,000 riders gathered to ride the 21-mile urban loop over the new SR-520 floating bridge, the I-5 Express Lane, and around Seattle. <br />
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Bikers at the turn-around point of the ride on the floating bridge.</div>
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Biker gang on the SF-520 floating bridge</div>
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Lower deck of the I-5 Expressway </div>
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The view from the I-5 Expressway is much easier to appreciate from a bike.</div>
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Just the early morning downtown commute.</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comSeattle, WA, USA47.6062095 -122.332070847.2636815 -122.9775178 47.9487375 -121.68662379999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-18128083096667056742016-03-20T20:00:00.000-07:002016-04-10T10:57:21.679-07:00Chasing sunshine in Wenatchee, WASeeking a break from the long winters of the Pacific Northwest, Craig and I spent a weekend in Wenatchee, WA. Once east the Cascade mountain range, the weather changes dramatically from a soggy lush forest capped by low, gray skies to a high desert environment with almost certain sunshine.<br />
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One of the highlights of the trip was a hike along the Ancient Lakes trail--a hike that takes you along steep basalt cliffs, up close to waterfalls, and encircles a tiered chain of pothole lakes left behind receding glaciers. <br />
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Views from the start of the trail.</div>
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Columnar basalt </div>
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Basalt and waterfalls<br />
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Scrambling to get to the next tier of waterfalls</div>
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Waterfall, Craig, and chain of pothole lake</div>
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More waterfalls in the desert</div>
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Looks more like Utah than Washington</div>
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Craig looking out </div>
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Marmot!</div>
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Craig and me</div>
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Even without the hike, the town of Wenatchee was an attraction in itself. A quaint downtown with an old west feel, the city has done a great job of maintaining the original building structures while re-purposing them with cute boutiques and restaurants. Little known fact, they are known as the apple capital of the world and are one of the largest producers of apples. Although Wenatchee was not previously on my radar, I'm looking forward to returning this fall to check out their apple-harvesting festivities. <br />
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Wenatchee's pubic market-- probably most-likened to a smaller version of Seattle's Pike Place Market.</div>
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Some of the shops inside of Wenatchee's Public Market </div>
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Love me some good Mexican food and Wenatchee had a lot of it!</div>
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A bridge across the Columbia in Wenatchee</div>
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Pedestrian bridge across the Columbia River</div>
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Swimming duck</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comWenatchee, WA, USA47.4234599 -120.310349447.337522899999996 -120.4717109 47.5093969 -120.14898790000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-3003541534825207242016-02-14T08:37:00.000-08:002016-03-30T10:36:57.551-07:00Weekend in FloridaOver President's Day weekend, Craig and I jetted down to Florida to visit his brother, sister-in-law, and new nephew. Maybe it was because we were seeing family or perhaps it was due to the weather being surprisingly pleasant, but during this trip, I saw a different side of Florida. I was charmed by the cute little towns we visited and felt refreshed to see a change of scenery outside.<br />
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First up on the trip, Craig and I took a quick jaunt over to New Smyrna Beach while David and Sarah were at work. Although I wish Florida didn't build so many large hotels right on the beach (they're such an eyesore), it was pretty nice to be around a part of the ocean that can be used without a wetsuit! </div>
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sand pipers piping</div>
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The following day, we went to Blue Springs State Park to go for a short walk and see local manatees that vacation in the springs for the winter. Craig and I had backseat baby-entertaining duty, which makes car rides even more fun!</div>
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Backseat entertainment</div>
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Going for a stroll at Blue Spring State Park</div>
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Hunting for manatees at Blue Springs. Baby Sam thinks manatees are boring. </div>
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Manatee blowhole!</div>
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Manatees!</div>
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Afterward, we dropped Sam off with his grandparents and went to St. Augustine for the evening. This city was such a treat! We arrived late in the afternoon, but I still felt that we saw a lot of this cute colonial-influenced town. One of the highlights was visiting the Ice Plant Bar. Although I don't have any photos, in the 1920s it was an ice manufacturing facility that has since been restored and turned into a vintage-style bar and restaurant. Many of their drinks, such as the Florida Mule I was sipping on, feature heirloom sugarcane and locally distilled alcohols.<br />
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We also walked down George Street, which had a touristy feel, but was still super fun! We finished the night off with a delicious dinner at the Floridian, which features farm-to-table southern cuisine, and a sunset walk to the fort at Castillo De San Marcos. <br />
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Castillo De San Marcos in St. Augustine</div>
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Sunset at Matanzas Bay</div>
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Our last full day in Florida was mostly spent hiking along the St. John's River. As much as I love the jagged skyline from the pines and mountains in the Pacific Northwest, I have to admit, I was pretty elated to be surrounded by the palms and drooping Spanish moss. </div>
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Hiking in the Black Bear Wilderness Area</div>
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So many fronds!</div>
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Cyprus swamp. No alligator sightings on this trip!</div>
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We find a friend!</div>
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Cyprus knees</div>
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Clearing the path of rattlesnakes for me. </div>
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Air plants</div>
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Gonna be a mighty king</div>
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Our final morning of the trip was spent lounging at the house, hanging out with baby Sam and talking about how we weren't ready to return to the cold and gray, rainy skies. Craig and David took an early afternoon spin in the Triumph, a sports car dating from 1958-1962 that was passed down from their cousin. Meanwhile, Sarah and I relaxed in the living room being silly and creating dialog for Sam and the dog.<br />
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Afterward, we said our goodbyes and returned on the long flight home to Seattle. This trip to Florida definitely made me take a second glance at this state and I'm looking forward to getting to know it better soon! </div>
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How cute is this little hedgehog?!</div>
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The boys posing in the Triumph. </div>
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Cruisin'</div>
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Barefoot in the backyard. Right before heading to the airport. </div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comDeLand, FL, USA29.028318 -81.30311790000001828.806155 -81.625841400000013 29.250480999999997 -80.980394400000023tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-22177437824019019382016-01-03T19:00:00.000-08:002016-01-10T21:31:35.446-08:00Starting 2016 at Diamond Lake and Crater LakeHappy New Year! To kick off 2016, Craig and I joined some friends from Oregon at their cabin on Diamond Lake. It was a full-blown winter wonderland weekend complete with snowmobiling, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and cabin relaxing. Below are some photos from the trip. Most of them boast Mt. Thielsen, but he looked so fabulous in his new suit of white that it was impossible to not photograph him in every change of lighting. <br />
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Craig walking on a frozen Diamond Lake New Year's morning.</div>
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Craig, me, and Mt. Thielsen </div>
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Craig and Dan get a tow behind the snowmobile </div>
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...and we lost a Craig. I love how this photo looks like Dan is trying to lasso Craig. </div>
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Me and Kathie riding in style. </div>
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How cute is this place?!</div>
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I mean seriously! How cute is this place?! Straight out of a fairy tale!</div>
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The deep snow made a great beer fridge for the weekend.</div>
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For one of the afternoons, some of us headed over to Crater Lake for snowshoeing. Even without being illuminated by a wintry blanket of snow, Crater Lake has an awe-inspiring beauty that has the power to stop anyone in their tracks. The new coating of white created of scene a of pure radiance and accentuated the lake's frigid blue color.</div>
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Wizard Island covered in snow</div>
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The rim of Crater Lake with snow.</div>
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Me trying not to get blown off the crater wall. </div>
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Some of the crew spend the afternoon at Crater Lake.</div>
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Kathie, Dan, and Craig down below.</div>
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Crater Lake</div>
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Mt. Thielsen with a morning shroud. </div>
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Mt. Bailey blasted by snow. </div>
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Mt. Bailey from below.</div>
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Silent Creek</div>
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Silent Creek and Mt. Bailey</div>
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Attempting some ice fishing.</div>
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Getting close with Mt. Thielsen. </div>
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Mt. Thielsen's ridge at sunset.</div>
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Last light on Mt. Thielsen.</div>
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The full crew at Diamond Lake: Cory, Lisa, Kathie, Craig, me, Dan, and Mark</div>
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Diamond Peak in the distance.</div>
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We awoke on the final morning to several inches of fresh snow with more to come. A storm rolled in early morning and continued for the remainder of the day. Icy roads and heavy snowfall, combined with holiday traffic made for an extra-long drive home. What is normally a ~7 hour drive turned into a ~12 hour trip! <br />
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Quick stop at the Deschutes River on the snowy drive home.</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comDiamond Lake, Oregon, USA43.173695599999988 -122.1521465999999843.12736559999999 -122.23282759999998 43.220025599999985 -122.07146559999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-89347877369265089982015-11-07T15:01:00.000-08:002016-02-22T13:59:06.157-08:00Tokyo, JapanAfter meandering our way down the scenic river gorge from Takayama, we transferred in Shin-Osaka onto a bullet train. This would be our final train, and it sped us across Japan's blurred landscape, returning us to Tokyo where our trip began. We arrived in the evening at Tokyo's central <span class="st">Tsukiji district and snaked our way through the very active night scene to a small business hotel. Although far from luxurious, it was a cheap place to catch some shut eye and more importantly was right across the street from the Tsukiji Fish Market! </span><br />
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<span class="st">The Tsukiji Fish Market is the largest seafood market in the world. Boasting everything from cheap seaweed to the world's most expensive caviar to controversial whale meat, over 700,000 tons of seafood pass through this location every year! Although primarily a working wholesale market, it has also evolved into a tourist attraction for those interested in a first-hand look at where their sushi comes from.</span><br />
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<span class="st">In order to guarantee our spot on one of the two 30 person tours offered per day, we had to be there by 4am! Because we knew our hotel was very close to the market, we didn't have the forethought to look up directions beforehand. Finding the market turned out to be much more difficult than we imagined. Although there was lots of movement in the shops surrounding the market, we didn't see any indication of the main entrance. Fortunately, we bumped into three Asian girls with what appeared to be a map and sense that they knew where they were going. By this point in the trip, we had been trained to shorten sentences to their most important parts to efficiently communicate. We therefore simply asked, "You go market?" One of the girls looked at us quizzically and replied, "Yes, it's right over there." It turns out that they were from Singapore, an English-speaking country. Our thorough embarrassment was increased when we had to stand with them for the next 2-3 hours while we waited for the tour to begin! </span><br />
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We arrive in Tokyo!</div>
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Some time between 4-6:00 in the morning waiting to get into the fish market. Each tour was given a jersey of shame to wear, signifying that we were tourists. </div>
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Being escorted through the market. The tour was heavily regulated with guards to accompany us at all times. We were discouraged from taking photos while walking to the fish auction area and had to stay with the group. Once we saw the bustle of distributors and flurry of speeding carts, it was clear to see the need for high safety measures.</div>
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Once in the fish market, we were directed to the tuna auctions. Inside, it was a large warehouse filled with various sizes of frozen tuna laid out on wooden pallets. Agents for restaurants and distributors paced around and inspected each fish with picks and flashlights. </div>
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It's hard to believe the quality of tuna could vary so much between each fish...</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/s_vi/09Lnsr3MutY/default.jpg?sqp=CJj-qLYF&rs=AOn4CLDx5Ci7gPgqXGxzoIFkcUQj_sfP0Q" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/09Lnsr3MutY?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
Video from the auction <br />
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After standing against the wall with our tour group watching all the agents inspect the fish for about 10 minutes, I was starting to wonder how long we would be confined to this one spot. Suddenly, a small man walked into the center of the frozen tuna and propped himself up on a footstool and started ringing a hand bell for a solid minute. The bell signaled that the bidding was about to begin and the agents made their way over for the chance to win their most prized fish. The auction was very similar to an American stock sale with farm animals. In both cases, the auctioneer sings out a fast auction chant of starting price and the asking price to outbid. The obvious difference is that in <span class="st">Tsukiji the auction chant is in Japanese. It also had more of a melody to it than an American auction. The way the auctioneer would hold out his notes waiting for someone to make a counter-bid reminded me of an opera performance. After the bids closed for each fish, the auctioneer would remove his hat and take a deep bow, further supporting my opera fantasy. </span><br />
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Tuna sales being carted off for distribution</div>
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After the auction, the tour was over and we were led out of the inner market area. Being this close to the source, we immediately went to a seafood bar and had a sushi breakfast! The quality of fish was the highest I've ever experienced. Coming late to the sushi game, I'm not one to branch out and try new things very often. However, in Japan we didn't really have a choice. A platter is selected and the the patrons get everything that's on it. Because everything was so fresh, it didn't have a fishy taste or rubbery texture that can often gross me out about many sushi options. Aside from the eel, which I'm still not ready for, everything on our plate, er...leaf as it was served here, was delicious and tender!</div>
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After breakfast, we walked around the outer market area, which sells more wholesale products and kitchen utensils. It was extremely crowded, but a fun place to spend a few hours after the auction. Craig even got some some sort of bivalve from a street vendor for a snack.</div>
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We return to the business hotel. Note the tiny door!</div>
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After the market, we cleaned up went to see a play at the Kabuki-za theater. Kabuki is a classical drama-dance style of Japanese theater probably most well-known for the elaborate make-up and costumes worn by the performers. It was definitely unique to any theater I've ever experienced with interesting dances and movements unique to each of the characters.</div>
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Scene from a Kabuki play (Source: tokyotimes.com)<br />
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After getting our fill of the <span class="st">Tsukiji district, we packed up and headed for the Shinjuku area to check into the Park Hyatt, rated as one of the best hotels in the world. The experience at this hotel was different from the moment we entered the reception. Instead of roped off lines of impatient people, we entered a large, swanky room with thoughtful details and well-placed lighting and were greeted by a host in a sharp-looking suit. He directed us to a sit-down desk where we would begin the check-in process. I say "begin" because once they confirmed who we were, the hotel staff took us up to our room, gave us a tour, and officially checked us in inside the hotel room. When taking us to our room, the small female receptionist insisted on taking Craig's bag. I don't think she realized what she was getting herself into until she picked up the large backpack, which must have weighed at least 70% of her body weight. Despite her grunting and struggles, she wouldn't let Craig take it back and managed to get the bag up to the room. This dedication to hospitality, however absurd it may seem at times, will always earn Japan the top spot in the service industry.</span></div>
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<span class="st">Although we were excited to be in Tokyo, by this point in the trip, we were looking forward to having down time. Finding ourselves in a luxury hotel was the perfect excuse to lock ourselves away and pretend that the hotel, with it's city views and powerful rainhead shower, was our urban apartment. It also helped that the hotel was so difficult to get out of. We had to take 2 separate elevators do a lot of navigating just to find the exit!</span></div>
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<span class="st"> Park Hyatt from the outside</span></div>
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<span class="st"> Reception area</span></div>
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<span class="st">Hotel library </span></div>
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Checking out the fancy pants Park Hyatt.</div>
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Free champagne and flowers!<br />
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Not your average hotel gym</div>
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Tokyo with Mt. Fuji in the distance as seen from our hotel.</div>
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One event that got us out of the hotel was the Robot Restaurant located in Tokyo's technology district. It was one of the most bizarre experiences I've had and perfectly summed up modern Japanese culture. One of the most mind-blowing aspects of this restaurant was the insane amount of sensory input. When we first arrived, we were directed to a lounge area, which was covered ceiling to floor in mirrors, neon lights, and shiny tiles in an an array of psychedelic colors. While waiting for the main event, we kicked back in gold seashells and sipped on mixed drinks served from a can...all the while watching live bluegrass performed by robots.</div>
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At the Robot Restaurant, we ordered a whiskey with ginger ale and a Moscow mule. This is what they gave us!</div>
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Here we are trying not to have a seizure in the lounge waiting to be taken into the show room.<br />
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Bluegrassing robots</div>
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Another view of the waiting room.<br />
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When it was time for the main event to start, we were taken down several flights of stairs, which were also adorned with trippy colors and shiny things. The main show is a robot cabaret meaning there were scantly-clad Japanese women riding fighting robots to protect the harmony of the natural world. It was all tastefully done and created a very fun environment for the audience (once attendees realized what was going on). Craig and I had an absolute blast and I would recommend it as a must-do for anyone visiting Tokyo. Below are a few photos to give a general idea for what it's all about:</div>
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The show begins! Fighting robots!</div>
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With lasers coming out of a triceratops!</div>
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And scantly-clad Japanese dancers! </div>
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More robots and dancing!</div>
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Me feeling pretty stoked by the performance and finding our way back into the lounge!</div>
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Craig trying to find his way out of the restaurant.</div>
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Following the show, we spent a few hours walking the streets of the technology district. Again, there was so much input!</div>
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Technology district</div>
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View from our room on the 54th floor of the Park Hyatt. The dark spot in the center is the Meiji Jingu shrine and Yoyogi Park.</div>
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Morning haze of Tokyo</div>
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Room service waffles.<br />
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Our last day in Tokyo was a rainy one, but we spent it at the Meiji Jingu shrine and Yoyogi Park. This location was high on our to-do list because Craig found photos of his grandmother visiting the same location when she lived in Japan while in the Civilian Air Patrol in 1949-1952. It was fun to look for clues in the photos to figure out where she was within the shrine. </div>
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Craig with his grandma's photos from Japan. </div>
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Barrels of sake used as an offering to Emperor Meiji, who ruled during Japan's enlightenment period when the country began to open its doors for international trading.</div>
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Craig under one of the many impressive torii gates within the park.</div>
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We selected Japan as our international destination because we sought a place with culture and food that was vastly different than that of the U.S.. And wow, did it deliver! Although I can't say that I every really "got" Japan while we were there, I found it to be a fascinating place with values emphasizing social responsibility that the rest of the world could take a lesson from. Although I don't think I would change anything about our first-time-in-Japan itinerary, with the chance to go back, I would love to see the more natural side of the country on the north island of Hokkaido. Next time! Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comTokyo, Japan35.7090259 139.7319924999999335.2962344 139.08654549999994 36.1218174 140.37743949999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-33085202945327001942015-11-05T15:42:00.000-08:002016-02-24T10:28:39.261-08:00Takayama, JapanThe train ride from Onomichi to Takayama was gorgeous--probably one of the most scenic drives I've ever taken. The views were especially good once we transferred to a train in Nagoya that would transport us from the coastal lowlands upward to the foothills of the Japanese Alps. Along the way, we passed through many small mountain villages and were treated with dramatic views of the Kiso River's deep canyon. This river is often referred to as Japan's Rhine because of its similar setting to the Rhine River flowing through Germany.<br />
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Takayama is a small, rural city that has retained much of its traditional charm. With an industry originally based on timber sales and carpentry, the city has managed to preserve elements of these trades with many centuries-old merchant shops still featuring local, hand-carved wood pieces.<br />
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Originally, we had hoped to use this stop as a home base to explore the mountains of the Japanese Alps. However, we arrived too late in the season and many of the buses that take visitors to the mountains had stopped running for the year due to ice and snow at high elevations. At first I was sad that we wouldn't get to be up close and personal with the Alps, but we still had a really fun time in and around the city. <br />
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One of Takayama's many canals.</div>
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Koi living in one of the canal pools. </div>
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Craig get a dumpling from one of the many street vendors.</div>
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Takayama's supreme water quality and cold temperatures have historically made it an ideal location for brewing sake. Once boasting over 50 sake breweries, only seven remain today. A brown <span class="old_text_2">sugidama (ball made of cedar branches)</span> outside a shop is a sure-sign that the sake is pouring!</div>
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At one of the sake tasting rooms we entered, we paid 125yen (~$1 USD), received a take-home sake glass, and were pointed to a sake fridge to pour our own sake shots from 12 bottles!</div>
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Craig walks through one of the streets in Takayama's downtown area. Many of the buildings and homes in this city were built and owned by wealthy merchants from 1600-1868.</div>
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<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuiWC8cArSukKjmDuTXShdGwq7TCWkSu9V0qexijPFKr-wT7pSQuR745baX0wnfNpE_laA0TSQUGGujGx3N34DGXCyKJXHARsTmMBMObg8i0MehcoaTaO-1FvcEeh5II5EFqHRD8-4kMI/s640/DSC04215.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
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Sake! </div>
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<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iYUQWTjXJzfZ3FRmqhmhQRAYKYXnhZHK3RizS5n3eAWOAU5NH379seqg2LGaLgawsWBxDoOx84l7ViCmSw6km20WnYTANZ78J3LGKv9ORgNDSJifwurrBuh-lwSIgi3Paht2jx0DYL4/s640/DSC04217.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
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Japan is well-known for having some of the most efficient products in the world. However, there were a few instances that just didn't make any sense to me. For example, here we are drinking sake out of thick-walled boxes. </div>
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Sorry to the vegetarians! In addition to sake, Takayama is well-known for its Hida Beef dishes. Hida Beef is a term given for the black-haired cattle that have been raised in the Gifu Prefecture (where Takayama lies) for 14 months, and have been certified based on texture and firmness. As the price suggests, it is a very high quality beef that is often served seared or thinly sliced and raw. Not a beef-lover, I was very skeptical of eating it at all (let alone raw), but I couldn't believe how good it was! Above is a photo of some lunchtime Hida Beef sushi we had. </div>
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Following Hida Beef sushi, we entered a cafe and indulged in a green tea latte. Sooo good!</div>
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Another view of the canals running through the city center.</div>
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Takayama is a great walking city with several lovely temple walks that parade visitors through the most scenic local areas. Although we may have been a week early for the peak of the autumn leaves at Takayama, the colors were still pretty amazing. We spent many of the mornings and afternoons just walking through the city and eating dumplings, soy rice balls, and other goodies from the many street vendors along the way.</div>
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Ginkos--one of my favorite trees!</div>
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I think Craig rang every temple bell we saw in Japan. </div>
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While in Takayama, we went to Hida Villiage, an open-air museum (and World Heritage Site) just outside of the downtown area. It featured traditional homes, logging huts, and farm houses of the mountain villages as they looked in the 1600 through 1800s. </div>
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Japanese maple</div>
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Many of the homes we saw were massive with steep thatched roofs that are meant to resemble two hands in prayer. </div>
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While touring the heritage site, we found a trail in the backside of the park that pointed to a castle. No one was on the trail and it was very overgrown so, of course, we went exploring! The trail was pretty much all uphill, snaking through overhead brush. When it finally climaxed at a clearing where the castle used to stand, we were delighted to find that we were surrounded by white peaks of the nearby Japanese Alps.</div>
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We lounged at the castle site for a while, imaging what it must have been like to have lived in a castle with these vistas!</div>
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The city of Takayama down below with the Japanese Alps in the background.</div>
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Reluctant to return through the thicket we just walked through to get to the castle site, we decided to follow with high hopes that they would lead us back to Takayama.</div>
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Along the way, we pass a long row of flags. Although we had no idea what they signified, it made for an interesting sight along the path.</div>
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A pretty scene along our unexpected day hike on the way back to Takayama. </div>
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After hiking for several hours, the trail finally brings us down to an area just outside of the city. Above is a shot of Craig in a field of soft autumn colors that greeted us once we got out of the woods. </div>
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By this point, it was late afternoon and we were starving. With still a couple more miles to go until we got back to town, we were eager to eat at the first restaurant we saw. Maybe it was the delirium of not having any lunch or maybe it was another huge lost in translation moment, but when saw this building with a sign saying, 'PUB' with a crossed fork and spoon beneath it, we logically assumed this was a pubilc house-style bar/restaurant. We marched up to the door and walked inside only to find that it was someone's house! The owner, who was out back working on a bench that transforms into a picnic table, saw us walk into his home and came over insisting in broken English that we go inside. Still unsure if he was trying to seat us at his 'pub' or just wanted company, we obliged. Unfortunately for our stomachs, it was the latter and he wanted to show off his log home that he had built by hand. He showed us photos of the building process and then pointed out mountain peaks through his telescopes stationed on the front porch. Surprisingly, he is also an avid paraglider and runs a paragliding business from his home. Remember that pretty soft autumn scene shown in the previous photo? That's the landing strip for his paragliding trips! Despite the awkward circumstances, it ended up being a very pleasant interaction and he obviously enjoyed the company. </div>
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Speaking of food, one of my favorite meals in Japan was this Hida Beef ramen.</div>
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As I said in a post about <a href="http://photoerica.blogspot.com/2015/10/kyoto-japan.html">Kyoto</a>, many of our accommodations in Japan were tiny. Takayama's lodging was no different. Our queen-sized bed took up the majority of the room, causing us to take turns standing at the foot of the bed to get ready in the morning. Ha!</div>
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The last night in Takayama, we moved from our cheap hostel accommodations and splurged for a traditional ryokan experience. Rated as a must-do in Japan, a ryokan is basically a Japanese-style bed and breakfast from the 1600-1800s that historically would have serviced travelers along ancient Japanese highways. </div>
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arrival, they handed us kimonos, traditional Japanese garments to be be
worn at dinner with sandals. Having no idea how to put on the kimono, I
had to call the front desk for assistance. Watching all the steps needed to complete the outfit, I'm amazed that it was assumed one would just know how to properly put the garment together.</div>
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Craig and me all ready for dinner.</div>
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Passing the time before dinner. There weren't chairs, a bed, or anywhere to sit in the room aside from on the floor at a low table.</div>
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Dinner was a six-course meal, all presented very artfully.</div>
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I love this photo of Craig after he realizes that he's just taken a bite of pumpkin and pickled radishes.</div>
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Sauteing one of the courses--veggies and Hida Beef. </div>
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We returned from dinner to find that our traditional Japanese futon beds had been rolled out for us.</div>
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After dinner, we spent an hour in the spa area. When we entered the room, there was a stereo with smooth jazz options such as John Coltrane and Miles Davis. To further set the mood, there was also a box of kids bath toys to throw in the water.</div>
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Although the ryokan was an interesting experience, I don't know that I would have classified it as a must-do when visiting Japan. It was very expensive and seemed a little cheesy to me at times. That said, I did have a great time, but mostly because I spent the whole night laughing about the awkwardness of the whole situation!</div>
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After spending three days and four nights in Takayama, we boarded the train and were off to our last destination of Japan -- <a href="http://photoerica.blogspot.com/2015/11/tokyo-japan.html">Tokyo</a>!</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comTakayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan36.1461236 137.252172935.3255026 135.9612794 36.966744600000006 138.54306640000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-7040983903221050252015-11-01T12:28:00.000-08:002016-02-21T15:13:17.768-08:00Onomichi, JapanWhen planning our Japan trip, we wanted to spend Craig's birthday in Onomichi to bike the Shimanami Kaido. This popular 45 mile bike route connects the cities of Onomichi and Imbari through a series of seven islands. The bridges spanning the islands were designed with bikers in mind so they all have a separate bike lane for cyclists to safely cross. I wish more cities had this kind of planning! <br />
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Being partial to working water fronts and steep mountains, I was especially fond of Onomichi's location, which featured both. It is port city surrounded by mountain peaks and Japan's inland sea. Much like Washington's Puget Sound, islands with steep shorelines dot the surrounding sea, painting a tranquil scene when observed from a high vantage point.<br />
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Its picturesque setting was enhanced by the mix of old and new Japanese architecture built into the steep hillsides. It created a very retro feel, which is probably why several Japanese movies and shows have been filmed here. <br />
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Below are some photos and stories from our time in Onomichi:<br />
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Back on the train headed for the transfer station to Onomichi.</div>
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In an effort to promote tourism, Japan prefectures and cities have started adopting mascot representatives of their local area. Although we didn't notice them everywhere, we definitely saw some cities really embrace this idea. Here is me high-fiving Octopus-kun at the train station on our way to Onomichi. Strangely enough, he is the mascot of Minamisanriku, located much farther northeast of us so I'm not sure what he was doing in these parts. </div>
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Bari-san (on the left) is the mascot of Imbari, the city we would bike to from Onomichi. He was EVERYWHERE from stuffed animals to candies along the bike route. I also recently read that Bari-san was voted the most popular mascot in Japan! Lucky duck...or chicken....I'm not really sure.</div>
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At the transfer station to Onomichi</div>
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Walking along Onomichi's waterfront</div>
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Onomichi Castle</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GEd5Rasqm6PAgxmLmgTbHs-LiD5wzp3VOzZzb29uvT51h__6HDriuQsFVT3q3kvg6m6Ne5BdtokJ9XuLWfwQX6YRAVSbLtnWkwtqgYwyhnKVn-mqFZWroLmCkNL2lHMBTLTM1U-xIkg/s1600/DSC_0367_copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GEd5Rasqm6PAgxmLmgTbHs-LiD5wzp3VOzZzb29uvT51h__6HDriuQsFVT3q3kvg6m6Ne5BdtokJ9XuLWfwQX6YRAVSbLtnWkwtqgYwyhnKVn-mqFZWroLmCkNL2lHMBTLTM1U-xIkg/s640/DSC_0367_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Although this hotel wasn't nearly as nice as the modern place we stayed the previous night in Hiroshima, it offered a nice waterfront view.</div>
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Craig and me at Senkōji Park</div>
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Lover's Sanctuary, also at Senkōji Park. Visitors could buy locks and keys to write their name on and hang here. Stray cats are also famous in Onomichi so they are a commonly incorporated into the local art. Note the two cats in love here!</div>
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Sunset from the park overlooking the city and waterfront</div>
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Another angle of Onomichi Castle </div>
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Distant ridges viewed at sunset.</div>
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Sunset from the park overlooking the city and water front.</div>
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Originally built as a five story Pagoda in 1388, this temple was damaged and eventually rebuilt with only three stories.</div>
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All the hotels we stayed at in Japan offered yukata (bed clothing). It was usually a nice robe-like article, but in Onomichi, it looked more like an old-fashioned bed gown. We took advantage of this opportunity to take an old-time photo! ha!</div>
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Craig's birthday bike ride! The 45 mile bike route of the Shinamami Kaido is shown here in blue. There were many roads that could be taken, but this was the 'recommended 1-day route.' The logistics of doing the ride were much more complicated than they should be. Once the rider gets to the other side of the sea, there is not an easy way back. There are ferries, but none that go back to Onomichi and buses only leave a few times a day. We opted for a bus option and then had to move quickly, hoping to make it in time. Although the ride was very fun and pretty, I would love to go back and do a different route on some of the less traveled sections of the islands. The recommended route often took riders right through the most populated and less scenic regions.</div>
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Awaiting the ferry to take us to the first island. The first bridge is the only one without a good bike path.</div>
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One of the bridges we crossed. The cyclists cross on the lower deck.</div>
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Cruising on the lower deck!</div>
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A quick stop at one of the beaches of the inland sea. It was chilly and gray that day, but the set up for this area looked like it was designed for large crowds. </div>
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Craig making his way across another bridge.</div>
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More biking views.</div>
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Onomichi and the offshore islands are known for their citrus. On many of the islands, we biked through citrus farms full of oranges and lemons. Citrus flavors were also incorporated into many of the local desserts.</div>
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Lemon ice cream! Yum!</div>
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Several of the bridges had this suspended design. Note the oranges in the foreground!</div>
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Craig and me mid-ride at our lunch stop. </div>
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After eating lunch, we ran into these guys. They were on a mission to make 100 friends by the end of the day. After chatting with them for a while, they had us write our names on the white board and pose for a photo. Fun!</div>
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Making our way back up from the waterfront.</div>
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Love biking in my own lane!</div>
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The scene from one of the islands.</div>
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Bridge-biking birthday boy!</div>
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On ramp to the next bridge.</div>
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Craig on the ramp to the final and most dramatic of the bridges leading into Imbari. From here we successfully made our bus back to Onomichi. Interestingly, our bikes were placed in the bus seats behind us rather than under the bus as I would have expected. </div>
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Craig's birthday sake and sushi dinner in Onomichi! I just love the presentation of Japanese food--so colorful!</div>
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The waterfront at night.</div>
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In total, we spent two nights in this lovely port town. With its inspiring setting and unique bike access to nearby islands,
it's no wonder that this is a Japanese vacation destination. Despite the appeal, it is located a little outside the main tourist hot spots, so we didn't see many Westerners. Although I really enjoyed Onomichi, if I could do it over again, I would have done a little more research about good dining spots. We ended up finding a few good places (including a lemon pizza), but we walked all over the city looking for interesting restaurants and often came up empty-handed. Granted, the bleakness of the search might have been elevated by the coincidental timing of me getting pretty tired of Japanese-style food. haha!<br />
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<a href="http://photoerica.blogspot.com/2015/11/takayama-japan.html">We head from sea level to the high mountains in the next post about Takayama</a>!<br />
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comOnomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan34.4088756 133.204888633.9896951 132.5594416 34.828056100000005 133.8503356tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-87403411850873391662015-10-30T11:55:00.000-07:002016-02-21T15:13:34.053-08:00Hiroshima, JapanWe continued west on the train to the city of Hiroshima. Most well-known as the site of the world's first deployment of a nuclear bomb that leveled the city in 1945, Hiroshima is now a large metropolis. Aside from the memorial, there is little evidence of the horrific events that took place just 70 years earlier. <br />
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Our primary purpose for visiting the city was to see the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It's a moving experience that offers a glimpse into the tragedy and utter destruction that is caused by nuclear warfare. The explosion from the bombing wiped out 90 percent of the city and immediately killed 80,000 people. Thousands more would die in the following weeks and years due to the lasting effects of radiation exposure. The museum did an effective job of telling personal stories of those affected, explaining the science behind why the bomb was so destructive, and describing the consequences of radiation on the body. We were also interested in learning more about the Japanese depiction of the politics and events in World War II leading up to the bombing; however, we found this side of the story to be lacking. Half of the museum was under construction while we were there so I assume these topics must be further detailed in the renovation area. <br />
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Scaled depiction of the atom bomb being dropped over Hiroshima.</div>
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Folded paper cranes representing peace prayers for Sadako Sasaki. She was a two year old girl located a mile away from the bomb site, but was still unknowingly exposed to the terrible effects of nuclear radiation. At 9 years old, she was diagnosed with leukemia, a common disease associated with radiation exposure at the time. While in the hospital, Sadako sought to fold 1000 paper cranes, following an old Japanese legend that completion of the task would grant the folder a wish. Sadly, she died at the age of 12, but thousands of paper cranes are still made by school children and visitors from around the world and shipped to her memorial. It was truly stunning to see the global impact of this young girl's story.<br />
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More paper cranes visitors left at the memorial site. </div>
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The famous atomic bomb dome, which is one of the only buildings left standing after the attack. The bomb exploded almost directly overhead of the structure. The building's columns were able to withstand the vertical downward force of the blast, allowing the structure to remain intact. The photo in the foreground shows the building prior to the bombing.</div>
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Another view of the dome at sunset.</div>
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Old meets new as the memorial site of the Atomic Bomb Dome sits in the foreground of the city center.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIr28JW4SJeVIYolFkEtqzwk5WCsSRiCg_hH0oWIHj1zMc-nWrXPCto66ySAtRauMPnIl-_QJy9u7VITfrq3TSKCj9Y2s1-hzWKm7jUvxHmjg9HA8BWxkLSeZ8092uPkrkcSetcP7IZqA/s1600/DSC03711.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIr28JW4SJeVIYolFkEtqzwk5WCsSRiCg_hH0oWIHj1zMc-nWrXPCto66ySAtRauMPnIl-_QJy9u7VITfrq3TSKCj9Y2s1-hzWKm7jUvxHmjg9HA8BWxkLSeZ8092uPkrkcSetcP7IZqA/s640/DSC03711.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
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Hiroshima is also famous for its okonomiyaki dish. Diners are typically served at an open grill where the food is prepared in front of them. It all starts with a thin sheet of batter. This is layered with udon, a teriyaki-like sauce, a fried egg, bacon, scallions, cabbage, and mayonnaise. Although the ingredient list doesn't sound that appetizing, take my word for it, this dish is not something to pass up! It was one of my favorite meals we had in Japan. </div>
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As we were taking advantage of credit card points for the hotel in Hiroshima, we were also treated as guests to the lounge area. Similar to my thoughts on the business-class flight, I thought it was nice, but not something I would personally splurge on. The food was so-so and I ended up eating cheese and crackers for most of the night. They also offered bottomless, pour-it-yourself drinks, which might make up for the cost for some people. </div>
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Craig and me looking out at Hiroshima from the hotel lounge. We couldn't get over how different the area would have been just 70 years ago during the war. </div>
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We stayed in some of the best hotels in Japan that I've ever experienced. Characterized by being very modern and swanky, they were also complete with a yukata (Japanese bed clothes) and high-end guest services.</div>
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Relaxing in our yukatas while watching Japanese theater on tv. </div>
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Only spending one night, our time in Hiroshima was brief, but powerful. The city has overcome unimaginable conditions and has evolved into a modern metropolis advocating for world peace. This is a beautiful transformation that I don't imagine is easily achieved post-war. The landscape surrounding the city was also gorgeous with lots of hills enclosing the city. I regretted not having enough time in our schedule to do more exploring in this distant part of Japan. </div>
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<a href="http://photoerica.blogspot.com/2015/11/onomichi-japan.html">Next, we roll back east about an hour on the train to the city of Onomichi</a>!</div>
<br />Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comHiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan34.3852029 132.4552926999999733.966231900000004 131.80984569999998 34.8041739 133.10073969999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-85799417378509996252015-10-29T13:28:00.000-07:002016-02-21T15:13:49.041-08:00Kyoto, JapanCraig and I have been trying to do at least one international trip a year. Last year, we chose <a href="http://photoerica.blogspot.com/2014/10/turkey-part-1-of-4-cappadocia.html" target="_blank">Turkey</a>, which was amazing! For this year, we wanted to stick with the theme of a culture completely foreign to our lifestyle in the U.S..We also wanted to travel over Craig's birthday since he missed having a proper 30th celebration the year prior when we were moving from California to Washington. Because Craig has been mentioning for a while now that he wanted to visit Japan, I was not surprised that this spot was at the top of his birthday wish list. <br />
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We also splurged this year and used credit card points to get seats in business class for the roundtrip flight! With the food service, endless wine, video games, reclining seats, and warm towels, I certainly understand why people prefer this section over economy seats. However, I'm still not convinced that I would spend my own money on the luxury if the the credit card points didn't foot the bill. <br />
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<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_xzw0iK9KNuwujIin_5j_Y9BsL0_l8ubXrKF_YezzKMuUpmZBBQQeSZdxLroV-pgRFlR439GjMTnIvILbMGD51gxaUiSSf77-35gatLkyGn9aVHqW7piDoxU0QWF2VcXMCz19iLMyJM/s640/DSC03228.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
First taste of Japan! Menu from top left to right: egg tofu with starch sauce; squid; prawn, pumpkin and prawn dressed with vinegar sauce; poached shiitake and spinach; duck breast and lettuce; halibut; lobster and taro with mustard miso; eel and radish; smoked salmon and egg yolk.<br />
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Craig showing business class how to relax.</div>
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<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGBPA9-zSezhUV5fkj3Ohyphenhyphen2Z3Iyd4O3ILtit9Qe52fgaWzpX00MPOquJowaYxum8H87daPNEJr32Ze5jjEjmXC8msmIsjKLnm8H4TFUMy4jIbx3s7EQbDqmty7lMj3pL-MUfbAzBlOwo/s640/DSC03213.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
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Starting off the flight with some bubbly!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jE_HTjBYQ37aKrHeAM4Kq0pGQYUbQEaXDKJRBOhjvCMShfP5zXYOHIy-S1LJV-Wa5NBic10atrlpd8_CeN1q5Hyxnl-BbRyJPJgdg4_hm76hZCxbgkUcwVyT0LqDlVNV7H4kWYko82Y/s1600/DSC03242.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jE_HTjBYQ37aKrHeAM4Kq0pGQYUbQEaXDKJRBOhjvCMShfP5zXYOHIy-S1LJV-Wa5NBic10atrlpd8_CeN1q5Hyxnl-BbRyJPJgdg4_hm76hZCxbgkUcwVyT0LqDlVNV7H4kWYko82Y/s640/DSC03242.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
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They even had Street Fighter on the plane.</div>
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Thanks to being in business class with reclining seats, we felt much more rested than normal after a long flight and even got a few hours of shut eye! We arrived in Narita in the evening and took a train to our hotel in Tokyo. The following day, we were officially off to the start of exploring Japan. First stop, Kyoto!</div>
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Before getting to Japan, we bought rail passes that allowed use of the majority of Japan's vast rail system that connects most of the country. It even provided access to the bullet trains, which travel up to 200 miles per hour and made for a speedy transit time between destinations!</div>
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The train stations in Japan operated with a fascinating efficiency. Everyone lines up in an organized fashion for the car they are riding in. The trains always arrive exactly on time, doors open, and everyone boards quickly and the train is moving again at the exact time of scheduled departure! It's such a contrast to the trains I've experienced in the U.S. where the actual departure/arrival time can be up to plus or minus several hours of what is listed on the schedule. Needless to day, this efficiency made traveling within Japan a breeze.</div>
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Bullet train arriving to take us to Kyoto</div>
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Kyoto was fantastic. I should preface this by saying that it is one of those places that everyone talks about as a must-see, but admittedly when we got off the train, we were immediately disappointed. The train dropped us off downtown, which was full of boring-looking, gray structures and concrete. Once we settled in to our AirBnB apartment and started exploring the city and it's historic periphery, it became apparent what all the fuss was about because this is truly a beautiful place. </div>
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As with most of our experiences in Japan, our time and activities in Kyoto were very random and probably best explained in photos. Below are highlights from our time in Kyoto:</div>
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Japan's temples were adorned with intricate details.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIsTRZMJzYCq7OIL7wLzScp-QJfkFy0dqaqowxobZzGhNihlLOwMDOyvGX-Jg9juHZMwAZvSdFgu0NczZc8qHb2AQMbQ1TehL6h3IXHagLJ6cS4N7tn7mcW7wVCmx73ojwXhpWOpHq8c/s1600/DSC03303.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIsTRZMJzYCq7OIL7wLzScp-QJfkFy0dqaqowxobZzGhNihlLOwMDOyvGX-Jg9juHZMwAZvSdFgu0NczZc8qHb2AQMbQ1TehL6h3IXHagLJ6cS4N7tn7mcW7wVCmx73ojwXhpWOpHq8c/s640/DSC03303.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On one of the days, we sat in on a Buddhist prayer session, which was peaceful and filled with chanting and singing. After the session ended, patrons worked together to clean up the temple. They even turned it into a game and raced across the floor with towels (shown above)!</div>
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Ah, Kyoto's alleys! This is one of my favorite things about the city. Upon first glance, they look like a normal alley way meant to provide quick access the following street. However, when you enter them, you quickly find that they are filled with lots of restaurants (all of which looked amazing), shops, and temples. At night, the alleyways are decked with paper lanterns enticing patrons to enter, which appears to work because they are the hot spots of the city. Many of the alleys were also capped with gate as shown above.</div>
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One of the many, many, many vending machines we saw. I'm not sure if it is because it's a great business model with low
overhead costs or because Japan has an introverted culture, but with an estimated 1 vending machine per 23 people, to say that Japan likes this concept is an understatement. For drink vending machines, it is expected that the product will be consumed and disposed of in waste receptacles next to the machine. This social norm may be one reason that Japan's cities were essentially trash-free.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivdexY061yRa2ql48_FLaDDakRCRBnr3yKOdCyvgse_xS3e_32l_-jN8ueYoirRSzzip_zybBgiDvnnQr8hQ4V76fLgqULiQe1Pna_JuKehXojMgBkKtWJfcSybGjhLCzx5vDCP752F4/s1600/DSC03288.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivdexY061yRa2ql48_FLaDDakRCRBnr3yKOdCyvgse_xS3e_32l_-jN8ueYoirRSzzip_zybBgiDvnnQr8hQ4V76fLgqULiQe1Pna_JuKehXojMgBkKtWJfcSybGjhLCzx5vDCP752F4/s640/DSC03288.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We found out what Tommy Lee Jones has been up to! He was featured on many of Japan's drink vending machines throughout the country!</div>
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Sushi in Kyoto!</div>
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The Kiyomizu-dera, one of the old (built in ~1633) temples located in Kyoto's eastern hillsides. </div>
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Jizo statues with cloth bibs placed by parents in hopes that Jizo will protect their children. </div>
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Another one of Kyoto's interesting alleys filled with shops, restaurants, and complete with a vending machine to the left.</div>
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A smaller neighborhood alley.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_zYPIJYOrCVbdIQFOc2LlOKv0HTdITNiDnfsGIeDZBqZA8XsM9SnlIL-Hn6EQq8jUNIntPkGU4uLQm7JjQmiAzWv6mmDejR484yIlbcPe9eLMB-zsOcTjJTDhdzAgtZqf-hnBurMYPs/s1600/DSC03334.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_zYPIJYOrCVbdIQFOc2LlOKv0HTdITNiDnfsGIeDZBqZA8XsM9SnlIL-Hn6EQq8jUNIntPkGU4uLQm7JjQmiAzWv6mmDejR484yIlbcPe9eLMB-zsOcTjJTDhdzAgtZqf-hnBurMYPs/s640/DSC03334.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Lunch! Water was served out of the cat vase. </div>
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I loved all the paper lanterns found throughout Kyoto.</div>
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A traditional dance stage in Kyoto. Unfortunately, we did not see any performances.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpp-2dbrHlnOMpQyDrpRSfbntylbgbd2i7r8JJPby5CDyxjIJOraZoEcpQhaqEaNaQgWGWOlodevgw3k3CduMNMkyxecztwBBY_o839GsbSrhFCgMhjpodYqkCEUyBHgXAlV_tsfWF_jk/s1600/DSC03345.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpp-2dbrHlnOMpQyDrpRSfbntylbgbd2i7r8JJPby5CDyxjIJOraZoEcpQhaqEaNaQgWGWOlodevgw3k3CduMNMkyxecztwBBY_o839GsbSrhFCgMhjpodYqkCEUyBHgXAlV_tsfWF_jk/s640/DSC03345.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Kyoto has such lovely parks. Every detail seems to be planned to create a serene setting. </div>
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Another landscaped setting at the Shoren-in Temple, one of our favorite temples in Kyoto.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgK1GZW1h9AnCtWHhc2BRdSR3EiufiUhLLZhdXTmIiuNhhtu4CiCvgR_Ue3VDNd8UgK256KMbk9eC79br7ZGbsCSexpsLAB8CyAYYuEOO05vX0OtrmSLyXNWJyyKW7nGlQ7mIeBlH5uB8/s1600/DSC03357.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgK1GZW1h9AnCtWHhc2BRdSR3EiufiUhLLZhdXTmIiuNhhtu4CiCvgR_Ue3VDNd8UgK256KMbk9eC79br7ZGbsCSexpsLAB8CyAYYuEOO05vX0OtrmSLyXNWJyyKW7nGlQ7mIeBlH5uB8/s640/DSC03357.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Every temple has a display of Buddha. They all vary from being simple to very elaborate such as this one.</div>
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A view of the Shoren-in Temple.</div>
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Many temples also have a large bell that is rung with a large wooden mast. It creates a penetrating tone that can be heard for large distances and is used for an alarm, times of celebration, or by tourists wanting to try it out. It was a common sound to hear in the distance walking through the temples. Some bells were so large that they required up to 25 people to sound it.</div>
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Toriis (or traditional Japanese gates) such as this were common at entry ways to Shinto shrines. They mark the boundary between the profane and sacred places.</div>
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Guardian lion statue</div>
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One of the largest temple gates in Japan. This one leads to the Chion-in Temple.</div>
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Toriis were a common site. Many of them were also orange as this is the color of illumination, the highest state of perfection, in Buddhism.</div>
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A very picturesque Japanese setting.</div>
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One of Kyoto's alleys was converted into a covered, outdoor shopping mall. </div>
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The view from our AirBnB apartment balcony.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7k8EI1aVz292KHHitk5gnXzJx0J4HMq1rPhdtA8eBEnHOeR2l_iQ7SO2GWE3cAOpPs602CfT-SnpWbs7Z5-jGUUeAFrL5d2DKJnMct4bU6WpzaepN1-ZitJHPk5lvsdn-9rVHoO-SDEc/s1600/DSC03434.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7k8EI1aVz292KHHitk5gnXzJx0J4HMq1rPhdtA8eBEnHOeR2l_iQ7SO2GWE3cAOpPs602CfT-SnpWbs7Z5-jGUUeAFrL5d2DKJnMct4bU6WpzaepN1-ZitJHPk5lvsdn-9rVHoO-SDEc/s640/DSC03434.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Craig biking through a neighborhood in Kyoto.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkkadgfKHUc2V8vWXOj-2lTu4uVCOVAwO0OAp2PhT7En34vsdV4pcTLEwnGH65kI_0t4uWrFsB1y-rrz8RxcKKbCx48Iujtozvo07EcJ6m4pGddzjozpyRwTO9Z6HJiw-_gpQRYoDsFk/s1600/DSC03439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkkadgfKHUc2V8vWXOj-2lTu4uVCOVAwO0OAp2PhT7En34vsdV4pcTLEwnGH65kI_0t4uWrFsB1y-rrz8RxcKKbCx48Iujtozvo07EcJ6m4pGddzjozpyRwTO9Z6HJiw-_gpQRYoDsFk/s640/DSC03439.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Arashiyama, the Western side of Kyoto, with the Oi River in the foreground.</div>
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Macaques at Monkey Park. The monkeys at this park are wild and technically free to roam. However, a constant supply of food keeps them hanging around the top of this hill where the park is located.</div>
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Baby macaque</div>
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Macaque drinking from a coy pond.</div>
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Craig offers a peanut to a monkey from inside the feeding area.</div>
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So wise!</div>
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Spooning macaques!</div>
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After Monkey Park, we continued on our bikes to a bamboo forest. It was a beautiful setting, but swamped with school groups and tourists.</div>
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Stopping to take a photo of the forest.</div>
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My favorite temple we visited in Kyoto was Otagi Nembutsu-ji. It was located in the outskirts of the city and didn't attract a large crowd. It also featured thousands of hand-carved Buddhas from different people around the world. Can you find the Craig Buddha in the photo above?</div>
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Many are covered in moss and showing signs of deterioration, but you can still make out the faces on most of the statues.</div>
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Another view of the statues and shrines.</div>
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Biking in Kyoto's countryside. </div>
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The Golden Pavilion. This is probably one of the most photographed and visited temples in Kyoto. With it's golden siding, it is without a doubt a beautiful sight to behold. However, the crowds really soured the moment for me and I found it to be a hectic setting. </div>
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One of the highlights of our time in Kyoto was ninja training at a real Dojo. We stumbled upon it while looking for something cultural to do and I think it's safe to say that this trumps a calligraphy class! Although we expected it to be a group activity, when we arrived it was just the two of us with our own personal sensei! He gave us an introduction to how to breathe, walk, think, and fight like a ninja. We learned how to identify trap doors and try some ninja weapons (blow darts, ninja stars, swords, and ropes). As a bonus, we even got to dress like ninjas during the training! That's right, Craig (Grandmaster Pancake) and I (Rabid Bonsai) are officially trained for a secret stealth operation.</div>
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The last thing a fly sees.</div>
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Me getting serious with the blow dart gun.</div>
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Post training picture with the sensei!</div>
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The best meal we had in Kyoto (and maybe Japan) was this small ramen shop in an alley.</div>
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Tommy Lee Jones makes another random advertising appearance. </div>
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Parking in Japan's cities is no easy task. Here is an example of a parking facility that relies on an elevator system to stack the cars. </div>
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We saw a few cat bars in Kyoto. Although it sounds like a nice idea to chill out in quiet room with a few cats, it was actually quite a cruel setting because the cats were clearly not enjoying the company. They all sat in the corner looking out into the next room trying their hardest to ignore the people who paid to come in to pet them. We didn't support the cause, but took this photo through the window.</div>
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Apartments in Japan were tiny! They were an ok size for one person, but with two of us, it became a little claustrophobic at times. The photo above shows the size of the little tub in the shower room. </div>
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The is the extent of the close-quarters apartment where we stayed in Kyoto.</div>
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In total, we spent four days in Kyoto and felt that it was a good amount of time to check out the temples and rural areas to the east and west of the city as well as indulge in Kyoto's delicious food scene downtown. Consistent with everything we read, this definitely lived up to its reputation as a must-see when visiting Japan!</div>
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<a href="http://photoerica.blogspot.com/2015/10/hiroshima-japan.html" target="_blank">Up next, we travel farther west to Hiroshima</a>!</div>
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<span id="goog_1998855896"></span><span id="goog_1998855897"></span><br />Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comKyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan35.0116363 135.7680293999999334.595911799999996 135.12258239999994 35.4273608 136.41347639999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-27521773718744455382015-09-27T13:22:00.001-07:002015-10-22T21:14:31.970-07:00Fall Colors at Easy PassFall has arrived in the Cascades and the proof is in the colors! Vibrant warm hues of crimson, gold, and orange painted the rocky trail and oozed out of the rounded glacial valley walls. We had superb weather with a start of sunny skies that transitioned into low, quick moving clouds and sleet. As will happen in the mountains, this change of conditions was unannounced and created dynamic vistas that transformed quickly, repeatedly exposing and blanketing the ring of jagged peaks around us. It was such an awesome show to witness and made me giddy for the onset of fall and winter!<br />
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Signs of fall colors appeared as soon as we broke out of the forest at the start of the trail. </div>
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The trail cuts through a fall pallet. </div>
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Stephen walking through the bright berry bushes.</div>
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Wondering where the larches were, we finally start to see them high on the pass. </div>
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The view behind us as we climb up the pass.</div>
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Larches at the top of the pass.</div>
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Larches covering a peak on the pass.</div>
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An old glacial valley </div>
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Clouds hugging the mountain as they quickly make their journey over the pass.<br />
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Colors painting the rocky outwash areas.</div>
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Looking down another glacial valley painted by fall colors. </div>
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Stephen in awe of the dynamic scene. </div>
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Electric larches </div>
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Stephen blending in with the large forest.<br />
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Me walking through an autumn rainbow (Photo: S. Newman)</div>
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"Layla" enjoying the view.</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-34390617099056379002015-09-14T20:26:00.000-07:002016-05-14T13:48:51.194-07:00Sunrise Lodge, Mt. RainierWhat is a visit to Washington without getting up close and personal with Mt. Rainier? The day before my mom left, we did just that with a hike starting from Sunrise Lodge (northeast side of the mountain). The weather forecast projected rain, but the webcams still showed clear skies for the northeast side. After triple cross-checking the weather and webcams throughout the early morning, we finally decided to risk it and make the drive to Rainier.<br />
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We were in luck as the change in weather was moving in slowly, but never became inclement for us. In fact, the high cirrus clouds made for more dynamic photos!<br />
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Mt Rainier from the road to Sunrise Lodge</div>
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Mom and me along the hike</div>
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Looking out at the meadows below</div>
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More meadows with Rainier in the background</div>
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My hiking companions</div>
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Posing for a photo along the trail<br />
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With the impeding change in weather came the winds. As we made our way along the trail toward Mt. Rainier, the winds kicked into high gear and were blowing at what must have been 40 mph gusts. The harsh forces were a reminder of why there is so little vegetation at these high elevations. Fortunately, we didn't have to endure the gusty conditions for the entire trail. The return route was on the leeward side of the mountain flank we walked along and provided protection from the winds.</div>
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Lots of triangles</div>
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We even saw Bruno Mars on the trail! Haha! </div>
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Out of the wind and on our way back to the lodge.</div>
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Can't get enough of this view!<br />
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While eating lunch, we had a visit from some of my favorite birds--the Gray Jays! I've never seen such a consistently curious species of bird. If they think you have food or hear the slightest rustle of someone in a bag, they come out of the woodwork to see what goodies they can snag. Below are some photos of them checking out our lunches. </div>
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Using Craig as bird bait (photo: L. Sells) <br />
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Mom is just like Snow White with animals!</div>
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Rainier and cirrostratus clouds warning of a change in atmospheric conditions.</div>
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Post card views as we wave goodbye to the mountains.<br />
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<br />Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-85446884128385476132015-09-14T20:13:00.000-07:002016-05-14T13:49:19.053-07:00Ruby Beach, WAWe were greeted by a foggy morning on the coast as we made the return drive home from our adventures in the <a href="http://photoerica.blogspot.com/2015/09/hoh-rainforest.html" target="_blank">Hoh Rainforest</a>. The fog was so thick that it became a cloak of invisibility for the vast Pacific Ocean. No matter how hard we looked for the water from the cliffs, we only saw a scene of bright gray.<br />
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We randomly pulled over at a beach with hopes of visible rocky outcrops and could not have been more pleased! We found sea stacks and cobbles and drift wood (oh my!). Combined with the fog, these features made for lots of dramatic photo opportunities. <br />
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Mom walking into the beach photographer's paradise.</div>
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Cobble beach, drift wood and rock cairns... </div>
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...lots of rock cairns!<br />
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Finding my niche.</div>
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Mom enjoying the cobbles</div>
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Be the rock!</div>
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A small offshore island emerges from the fog.</div>
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Pretty thick fog!</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-30677718865624739872015-09-14T20:11:00.000-07:002016-05-14T13:49:04.741-07:00Hoh RainforestThis week's blog post features a special guest--my mom! She visited me in Washington and we hit the road to check out some of the state's most spectacular sights. First up on the list? Hoh Rainforest!<br />
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Overwhelmed by old-growth trees such as the sitka spruce, big leafed maple, and alder, the temperate rainforest got prettier and bigger with each step. Mosses and lichens were suspended from branches like party streamers and with tufts of ferns springing out from any empty space on the forest floor, every shade of green was represented.<br />
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Mom looking for an elk in the alders.</div>
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Big trees, little mama.</div>
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Many of the trees in the forest grew from seedlings landing on a nurse log. Once the nurse log decays away, it reveals the intertwining of roots belonging to the new, adult trees.... (Photo: L. Sells)</div>
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...like this!</div>
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Mom along the Hoh River Trail.</div>
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Ferns</div>
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We spent two days playing among the trees and sleeping at their feet. Despite the dry summer, we were able to have a camp fire within the park. Feasting on ramen and Cliff Bars, we spent the evenings dining like vagrant queens around the fire's glow and catching up on much-needed mother-daughter time!</div>
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Mom in a sea of green.</div>
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Walking along the Hoh River.</div>
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Mount Olympus in the distance.</div>
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Stopping to check out the waterfall (upper right).</div>
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Elk (Photo: L. Sells)</div>
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A couple of rolling stones gathering moss! (Photo: L. Sells)</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-42125282014261431422015-08-02T21:06:00.000-07:002015-08-29T13:02:43.012-07:00Craig's Parents Visit WashingtonCraig's parents, Debbie and Dan made the trek from West Virginia to visit us in Washington this summer. While they were here, Craig and I got to be tourists in our own city! We dined at fabulous restaurants in Seattle, spent a weekend on San Juan Island, had dinner in the Space Needle, saw a Sounders soccer game, and spent a lazy afternoon on Vashon Island! Below are some photos from their stay. <br />
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View of Friday Harbor from the ferry </div>
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Some of us preferred the view from behind the windows to the right.<br />
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While on San Juan Island, we visited the Palindaba Lavender Farm. It was a gorgeous setting with a field full of pastel purples. The numbers of bees in the fields was also astonishing. Their buzzing provided a constant background hum while we walked through the rows of puffy lavender plants. </div>
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Lavender! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRejbVVA2ppT0TVT2dn8hHABWwWKAceAyKuZOssRS5knh0fQzDrVZCFD4FuRAtjKQtLGoZufUH7rRARzBjKulJbej4lEFJVGpI-n6MzB1_x9-yoXLfVR1PhGsV8hISgBzTnSUBazpsMp0/s1600/DSC02944_copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRejbVVA2ppT0TVT2dn8hHABWwWKAceAyKuZOssRS5knh0fQzDrVZCFD4FuRAtjKQtLGoZufUH7rRARzBjKulJbej4lEFJVGpI-n6MzB1_x9-yoXLfVR1PhGsV8hISgBzTnSUBazpsMp0/s640/DSC02944_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Lavender fields forever </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpKw6TS0Pmq7D27pTju8Qlw4Sb2pQJTogM8HKhs6xmPU_VHIHyVtCUURO9foK5IqqJSsx_qEP3OLDHhD8OmLT58aaNNopkjv2npjtuX6jDox5VAF8gINReRvEyOe2DJJvrklX2B0DeRQ/s1600/DSC02949_copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpKw6TS0Pmq7D27pTju8Qlw4Sb2pQJTogM8HKhs6xmPU_VHIHyVtCUURO9foK5IqqJSsx_qEP3OLDHhD8OmLT58aaNNopkjv2npjtuX6jDox5VAF8gINReRvEyOe2DJJvrklX2B0DeRQ/s640/DSC02949_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I spy a Craig. </div>
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Craig in the dried lavender shop </div>
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Fam in a field of purple </div>
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Here we are battling it out to be the tallest in the photo. I think I won.(Lime Kiln State Park) </div>
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<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DSv2oU60YodIZnonVP7c61ek6uA0anbs9jXOl2p74-TvM5AMVMSX5Al05LX7Gzl0713t_tg7T9Hy6VpOUus8h1T1uOuD4l5zuaxWKdiHVe5-7xMU-jkwwcWwkV-enejdgKms1KT7pns/s640/DSC02978_copy.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
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Having some wine in our room with a view!</div>
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A ferry arrives with more weekend visitors to Friday Harbor<br />
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While on San Juan Island, we also went whale watching. It was a first for me and because of my <a href="http://photoerica.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-island-of-hawaii.html" target="_blank">recent experience</a> with boats, it was also a first for me trying over-the-counter motion sickness meds. Unfortunately, we weren't able to track down any orcas, but we did stumble upon some humpback whales and I didn't get motion sickness! Yay!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOr2tqUcJoBLRrUyzeGsNcqfIU2kG81fZ4S2dQsIHgraVJvVfXk_tN8dqKrhfDP5TdZdiNZBFws0ex_XJoZ7LV-opqqgj4ef5QPVQgTC4yXupRTXIxkCzvMHxUtjVEvAzaZfATYi3_OSA/s1600/DSC_0179_copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOr2tqUcJoBLRrUyzeGsNcqfIU2kG81fZ4S2dQsIHgraVJvVfXk_tN8dqKrhfDP5TdZdiNZBFws0ex_XJoZ7LV-opqqgj4ef5QPVQgTC4yXupRTXIxkCzvMHxUtjVEvAzaZfATYi3_OSA/s640/DSC_0179_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Weather rolling in while we're in search of whales. </div>
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Aaaand here comes the rain! </div>
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<img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjar3bX0PlVS0fjQ7qZLlUGznSFKioP03mnDB2KlVPDAurziMwGHXDjLo_ZVWalvsW_6ppdPpEiZGOAksCLj4cBQlDvhYaNcaoAP27rIMZBw-siMrjQ-A4IaFbYbmdkwTruv90L73egvX4/s640/DSC_0226_copy.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
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Dan battens down the hatches as we head into weather.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj3tHmMJTEBxzT7kDJt888-yJME1ZDdqjSl4mV9yhRG4B5Zb00h6h5Cn33sFNKCNTNjyRs3DqEXNRYye8x1v1AnuMifAkJVfHgVJZGAlyrskaT7skb-6mtGOtV0PH0V5T0P_dkYeOJa4/s1600/DSC_0181_copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj3tHmMJTEBxzT7kDJt888-yJME1ZDdqjSl4mV9yhRG4B5Zb00h6h5Cn33sFNKCNTNjyRs3DqEXNRYye8x1v1AnuMifAkJVfHgVJZGAlyrskaT7skb-6mtGOtV0PH0V5T0P_dkYeOJa4/s640/DSC_0181_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We found a timber ship! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL47SwSCXbgq3UOUFXVd-WACeDeeKOConQ5sMf0p9XXMjtMD4SyRr4AssCF_7iJNLQIjYDMbxZCcLcZTNMFAaIAmmGvuOjEx6-nGteJ5k91T0btHNyd8F_l9PENjwjiWW4iUzI6h3II-0/s1600/DSC_0185_copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL47SwSCXbgq3UOUFXVd-WACeDeeKOConQ5sMf0p9XXMjtMD4SyRr4AssCF_7iJNLQIjYDMbxZCcLcZTNMFAaIAmmGvuOjEx6-nGteJ5k91T0btHNyd8F_l9PENjwjiWW4iUzI6h3II-0/s640/DSC_0185_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There she blows! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTlDmvmO5qoH-d3opY5JU2USIWO_BKWVkRGa65p5ZnLoZoXGNNOHVI1fFdZvI9sDe1Cnc_PMG_3z23uCLKMGmPuqPFaHBJrMahvjH8auYwGvW8MNNRiIIC_l_sGxMDSilk1wx1GaaHOI/s1600/DSC_0200_copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTlDmvmO5qoH-d3opY5JU2USIWO_BKWVkRGa65p5ZnLoZoXGNNOHVI1fFdZvI9sDe1Cnc_PMG_3z23uCLKMGmPuqPFaHBJrMahvjH8auYwGvW8MNNRiIIC_l_sGxMDSilk1wx1GaaHOI/s640/DSC_0200_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It didn't take long for the rest of the paparazzi to show up...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRa8QTnfphhirnJmVusjgaLqYjPOi9QoY6kZ3nkTFHo9Oz_NUUIytCPG7BUynlPng14AC8E7jZe3c1iGR9slWWTQ3N4SdZ1AKmr6BGS1134XbIEeKPAtj_4MXjzr0yFE7xQF06jGOFy2U/s1600/DSC_0204_copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRa8QTnfphhirnJmVusjgaLqYjPOi9QoY6kZ3nkTFHo9Oz_NUUIytCPG7BUynlPng14AC8E7jZe3c1iGR9slWWTQ3N4SdZ1AKmr6BGS1134XbIEeKPAtj_4MXjzr0yFE7xQF06jGOFy2U/s640/DSC_0204_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Whale tail! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqeoBVOpGPfJ-Eb3cSTV_SU-nuGKyOeCca_uYM8bSpQDTm39msabUf8w0JAva9TXLOHStzGBFuxz6-IexIwMZ4wGAknpW3Veklkct1OfE-bZjjrvO9C9a5K5EiFtcDUgnTCc6kz91SE4/s1600/DSC_0206_copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqeoBVOpGPfJ-Eb3cSTV_SU-nuGKyOeCca_uYM8bSpQDTm39msabUf8w0JAva9TXLOHStzGBFuxz6-IexIwMZ4wGAknpW3Veklkct1OfE-bZjjrvO9C9a5K5EiFtcDUgnTCc6kz91SE4/s640/DSC_0206_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Going for a deep dive </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN93oUe4IgQvu9Vi2gaw4FVKxsCpSdkLRBthzm9S0QwXBtaXTlihet8pONQwECKWsNR6NVR2wYsa9JtCeTf3iaEWUij8qpzf89EV-zVzAjvsvgB9iG8-MfyzhokucBKRC3xCey0jKQOvk/s1600/DSC_0217_copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN93oUe4IgQvu9Vi2gaw4FVKxsCpSdkLRBthzm9S0QwXBtaXTlihet8pONQwECKWsNR6NVR2wYsa9JtCeTf3iaEWUij8qpzf89EV-zVzAjvsvgB9iG8-MfyzhokucBKRC3xCey0jKQOvk/s640/DSC_0217_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Bird poo makes cliffs look dramatic</div>
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<img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoix65RGFjMJSv8k_OdRvhLt9Ru5dbz9geknnk46sOLAojynyEDLGHQny4x5BPtjLuBasOOTU6yGAD-ePatEr44GYOOKQLeCiq4n5LYxSfDLbj5az6_DWeaasWQ9NwK0F8rWA20S2kIA/s640/DSC_0219_copy.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
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Eagle </div>
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Lounging seals </div>
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<img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7pE0nI47QqUDU3UWqjgTUsmW7KxDtT62bVzSQfOFQa7DZOrmEy9vY6BaHxDB68YK0VSsHS9zVbecjZw_PirQTYuH92oOo5Y92xb7haS5KgnDQcAKDMhzcMMp6hw15Wmp1z5ZifwXss0/s640/DSC02990_copy.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
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Riding back to the mainland</div>
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Front porch black bean burgers at our house in West Seattle</div>
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Sunset at Alki Beach in West Seattle </div>
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The Space Needle! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVOujq87zb1kfUgImMVzm6AMjH4UH7A6WqKMfsiOdLtC7qODqzAgl65eRhbgwc4Aa8yoQIoxct8gdK8tjKNfaQla55afT31iF3OBfvW4CzQrHjBgOfNFIRcelVZYhX2s1qphe6mZRqz4/s1600/DSC_0233_copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVOujq87zb1kfUgImMVzm6AMjH4UH7A6WqKMfsiOdLtC7qODqzAgl65eRhbgwc4Aa8yoQIoxct8gdK8tjKNfaQla55afT31iF3OBfvW4CzQrHjBgOfNFIRcelVZYhX2s1qphe6mZRqz4/s640/DSC_0233_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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View from the top </div>
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<img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBOdpXJ6D0oEVkRxFnr8UKGhIv22UhajY7t_QvRVCXBtj6q5ETIztraMzp2CeLvSd7KsggqvGCNg9SRkTRAhBmEkeAJH3JvJeHhhNLdHOrnqD5_NCAqWq-S9ibzM6itwBBNB_iM5PVu0/s640/DSC03023_copy.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
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Dinner with a view</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_4mx1a1w4c1rryggTNME3c_ixUD6T1jmyIb0lQAQnoUoT-aUoBkc1LC5YxTLYFgOKl8B4z_MegMHOx01oMfVurZfwKthquJhFB8ZlQ_yTsQMNl3PUbymggKaK7_tpemBHnY3a1VnjqI/s1600/DSC_0249_copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_4mx1a1w4c1rryggTNME3c_ixUD6T1jmyIb0lQAQnoUoT-aUoBkc1LC5YxTLYFgOKl8B4z_MegMHOx01oMfVurZfwKthquJhFB8ZlQ_yTsQMNl3PUbymggKaK7_tpemBHnY3a1VnjqI/s640/DSC_0249_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Beautiful sunset from the Space Needle </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVWVdpgX2Fsn0LDAv_7cMD9LvuFd82covvaUzhglEU8mmkHQihgixyvIIxo9lzbhxHvfk7LN-9dVSS4hZxvRTu2ZAjk1xK9cHh0UDh8wUPBAv9xYecIeoi1i77i3pk1UG60_0RorMTS0/s1600/DSC03041_copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVWVdpgX2Fsn0LDAv_7cMD9LvuFd82covvaUzhglEU8mmkHQihgixyvIIxo9lzbhxHvfk7LN-9dVSS4hZxvRTu2ZAjk1xK9cHh0UDh8wUPBAv9xYecIeoi1i77i3pk1UG60_0RorMTS0/s640/DSC03041_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Night shot from the Needle </div>
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Waiting for the Uber ride home </div>
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Whiskey tasting on Vashon Island </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVj1JbQ2sabSG3_yoTo09S80ssgfeHh0TXNNYbI_vOD2Nvkm199qtnnVQXkGz7lSB19gXr0sqe8c6vtjmcVOK-ijs-uvwOzqdytJHvDIJo2UP_jWjZNKEpLZ6yOy9fc8U8DAkdgpORpis/s1600/DSC_0259_copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVj1JbQ2sabSG3_yoTo09S80ssgfeHh0TXNNYbI_vOD2Nvkm199qtnnVQXkGz7lSB19gXr0sqe8c6vtjmcVOK-ijs-uvwOzqdytJHvDIJo2UP_jWjZNKEpLZ6yOy9fc8U8DAkdgpORpis/s640/DSC_0259_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The whiskey starters </div>
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Rainier as viewed from Vashon Island </div>
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Getting a personal tour from the owner of Nashi Orchards on Vashon Island </div>
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Asian pears</div>
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<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVDBOl_yJhIxGRxF9U0KzaPgcl9lGAf8yFlTl2rqWquVVJZKvJPcm0ulrz432Y9QNDJCOg2cSpin-pZjkylNBuSvO0QzPw2HC_k08S4axeuGpVV67fXf9TlX_QZxBeH0D_payASZJrnc/s640/DSC03065_copy.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
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Sounders game</div>
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Sounders game</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-56934901301226091792015-07-05T19:56:00.002-07:002015-07-07T11:48:02.040-07:00Down with ODT? Bikepacking the Olympic Discovery Trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love long weekends. However, I am guilty of getting a little manic when one of the rare 3-day weekends we get as working stiffs comes around. I tend to pack in as much adventure as physically possible knowing that it will be months before I'll see another long weekend again. This year's Independence Day weekend was no different. Although Craig and I were exhausted from constant movement from one plan to the next for what seems like most of 2015, we were eager to get in some biking outside of Seattle and escape the daunting heat wave. </div>
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After considering a few cycling routes we've been wanting to do in Washington and British Columbia, we decided on the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT) -- a cyclists dream with a soon-to-be continuous bike path providing a quiet, scenic tour across prairies, rivers, and forests to the ocean. </div>
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Although the trail goes ~132 miles (one way) from Port Townsend to La Push, we reasoned that if we started in Port Angeles (~40 miles west), we would reduce the amount of miles and allow ourselves a more enjoyable, leisurely pace with the ability to check out a few side trips along the way. </div>
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The plan for our now-reduced 154 mile (round trip) bike route involved two nights of camping, which became the next challenge. The Fourth of July weekend is one of the busiest times to get a campsite in Washington and there were no sites available. Rather than let this hold us back, we decided to play it by ear and improvise as necessary. </div>
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Below is an interactive profile map for our route:</div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500px" src="//ridewithgps.com/trips/5614294/embed" width="100%"></iframe>
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We started the weekend off in Port Angeles, grabbing a quick breakfast at the Blackbird Cafe before pushing off on the ODT. After getting turned around by a few confusing ODT signs in Port Angeles, we finally figured out how to get out of the city and were on our way west!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepxiye36kjLBTwToGSIOXy6I7MPyNtRFNRMmHQPKxRGq9MMIZg_7p0RF9aCrKP8NF1WsU9bdC9KjhS7DNfTwEJQN6AZTx6JZsBHVxeKD24SDhpY6PDu-jnYtrQtkyyGWIZJPoFbOiNEg/s1600/DSC02516_copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepxiye36kjLBTwToGSIOXy6I7MPyNtRFNRMmHQPKxRGq9MMIZg_7p0RF9aCrKP8NF1WsU9bdC9KjhS7DNfTwEJQN6AZTx6JZsBHVxeKD24SDhpY6PDu-jnYtrQtkyyGWIZJPoFbOiNEg/s640/DSC02516_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
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Starting out. Here we are just east of Port Angeles.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7XQ2Y9vp7t0eH6Dp0wYKwT8s98vcEcyjQoplCGTzmLmobdL72bLrgEmJjVJKK857xO0CVIhSoOOGRKAFKjk70unnJZ-_mfUHuY1DC_RZgeBQspfv6OiDthst5zYLVTd0q9w4Jh2d8oo/s1600/DSC02517_copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7XQ2Y9vp7t0eH6Dp0wYKwT8s98vcEcyjQoplCGTzmLmobdL72bLrgEmJjVJKK857xO0CVIhSoOOGRKAFKjk70unnJZ-_mfUHuY1DC_RZgeBQspfv6OiDthst5zYLVTd0q9w4Jh2d8oo/s640/DSC02517_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Finally off the main roads and onto the trail.</div>
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Taking the trail bridge over the Elwah River. </div>
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The section of the ODT we rode is a bit disingenuously called a "trail" and perhaps more of a route. A lot of the ride is actually on busy highways, including a large stretch on the shoulder of Highway 101. There was even a section near Crescent Lake that went on a narrow hiking/mountain biking trail. With loaded down touring bikes, this section, although only four miles, really slowed us down because we had to frequently get off and push the bikes around large roots and boulders. Thirty miles in on a +90 degree day, morale started to deteriorate. </div>
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To combat the heat and fatigue, we ditched the bikes for a swim in the lake. Craig chose to enter the water by launching himself from a 30-foot cliff; I decided to slowly mosey in one toe at a time. Although this helped refresh us, I'm not sure we ever fully regained the initial energy for the remainder of the ride. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMTwRYAvRQFTNyWa3wTq_8J4bC-cA8Ff0zN4SvpHsRUxwdy5cizM7gzw5U5hdxQ3oGP2-EVSSc7KDsiWY_uWcshCVtFHQSpWb8E9r8ad17M38cEMO7SU14W-BxtFmxl_qvWwS8NpfME4/s1600/DSC02523_copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMTwRYAvRQFTNyWa3wTq_8J4bC-cA8Ff0zN4SvpHsRUxwdy5cizM7gzw5U5hdxQ3oGP2-EVSSc7KDsiWY_uWcshCVtFHQSpWb8E9r8ad17M38cEMO7SU14W-BxtFmxl_qvWwS8NpfME4/s640/DSC02523_copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Biking through the forest on the north side of Crescent Lake</div>
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Pushing a loaded touring bike on a rutted mountain bike trail.</div>
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30 miles into the ~154 mile ride, Craig decides it's time to jump off a cliff. </div>
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I go for a dip in a quieter section of the lake.</div>
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Back in the saddle.</div>
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By the time we reached Highway 101, we were at the hottest part of the day, peddling next to a stream of cars and into a headwind. We took advantage of nearly every stream and river we passed to re-fill our water bottles using a water filtration pump. We also couldn't help but relieve ourselves from the heat and unforgiving sun by immersing ourselves in the water....it was seriously a hot weekend!</div>
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Craig takes a tip in the Sol Duc River under Highway 101.</div>
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As the sun finally started towards the horizon, we realized that we needed to figure out where we were going to sleep. Because we were about as dehydrated as our freeze-dried camping dinners, we needed it to be near water. Although all the campgrounds were full, we managed to stealth camp at a peaceful spot by the river and were in bed by 9:30pm...probably the earliest I've been asleep in recent memory. We were 11 miles shy of our goal to make it to La Push, but would make up for the lost miles the following day.</div>
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Scoping out camp site near the foxglove.</div>
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Success!</div>
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Packing up and heading out for day two.</div>
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I can't lie, day 2 started off rough. It got hot very early and we still needed to bike 11 miles to make it to the coast before turning around and making the trek back east. Thankfully, catching our first glimpse of the coast made it all worth it. The air was so much cooler once we made it over the last crest to the west. Although we didn't have much time at the coast, it was enough for a break from the heat and a much-needed (enormous) meal from a local restaurant with an ocean view. </div>
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Admittedly, I wanted to quit at this point. We had seen the entire route, made it to our goal of the ocean and now I was just tired and dehydrated and wanted to sleep. We looked for a bus ticket back to Port Angeles, but the buses weren't operating on the holiday. Guess we were finishing this ride, whether our legs wanted to or not!</div>
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First view of the ocean!</div>
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Taking in some cool ocean air and giving the steeds a rest.</div>
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Quillayute River mouth.</div>
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We made it to LaPush!</div>
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Saying a final goodbye to the ocean before heading back to the heat of the east.</div>
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On the trek back east, we passed through a town about a mile from Forks, WA, where the famous vampire teen novel/movie trilogy Twilight was set. Apparently, the book/movie's success has put the town on the map and it now attracts thousands of fanatic teenage girls every year. Coincidentally, Craig also had his Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale jersey on, causing him to get many compliments as we rode through the area. </div>
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A fan of a slightly different type of Twilight...</div>
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This sign is posted as you enter Mora near the Native American reservation area. I guess this means that we're in werewolf territory now!</div>
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Another cheesy Twilight sign. Sparkly vampires would have had a hard time concealing themselves in the relentless sun this weekend. </div>
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The rest of the trip back to Port Angeles was the definition of a slog. We slowly hauled our way along at 9-13mph, on terrain that somehow felt like uphill in both directions! Although we now had a tailwind, this meant that we didn't even have much of a breeze to dampen the afternoon heat. </div>
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Originally, we had planned to camp another night along the route, but it became tempting to just push through to get back to Port Angeles in one day. The temptation became even stronger when we realized that we could take a shorter, more dangerous route around the south side of Lake Crescent on Highway 101. We were warned that the shoulder becomes non-existent for this stretch, but we timed it so that most of the lake traffic would be in a lull while weekenders were eating dinner, getting ready for fireworks, etc. Good timing combined with not having to share the road with logging trucks because of the holiday weekend made this section much more pleasant than we expected. It also had a lot of downhill, which was a welcome change from the consistent, slow, low-grade incline we experienced for most of the day. </div>
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We stopped in the town of Beaver for snacks and water re-fill.</div>
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We finally find another section of the ODT, just west of Crescent Lake.</div>
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We turned on the flasher, signifying bikes were on this narrow stretch of Hwy 101.</div>
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A look at Crescent Lake from the South side.</div>
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As dusk started to settle in, we were only a few miles outside of Port Angeles. The thought of potential drunk drivers heading to the fireworks in the city combined with a rapid loss of light was starting to make me a little terrified and I was very anxious to get off the road. As we neared the city, we could hear the sporadic booms of private, backyard firework displays, which was an encouraging reminder of how close we were to the end of our ride (and more importantly dinner!).</div>
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We rolled into Port Angeles within minutes of the start of the city's fireworks. After finding an unoccupied bench among the crowd, we settled in to cook dinner on our camping stove while watching the fireworks. It almost felt like they were in celebration of completion of our sun-beaten, sweaty, and fun weekend adventure.</div>
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Waiting for water to boil.</div>
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<br />Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-57204385841568166332015-06-28T19:56:00.000-07:002015-07-09T09:59:29.211-07:00Backpacking at Lake of AngelsAfter several attempts to schedule a backbacking trip with one of our best pals, Chris, we finally found a weekend that worked! Since he usually travels down to Seattle or the Cascades to adventure with us, we decided to play in his backyard this time around--the Olympic Mountains. Specifically, our eyes were set on the Lake of Angels, a destination that came highly recommended by friends and online hiking posts, via the Putvin Trail. <br />
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All of the group except for Karen (who would catch up with us later that night), met in the parking lot, packed up our gear, and headed up the mountain. The Putvin Trail, first laid out by climbers is short (4 miles each way), but brutally steep (3400 ft elevation gain) with little consideration for the easiest route for your legs. There were a couple of exposed stretches where scrambling and use of hands was required. Although a vertical and incredibly hot (like even your shins are sweating kind of hot) hike, I found it to be a fun and challenging evening. The plan was to only go a couple of miles in before setting up camp for the night, but we had to climb about 3.5 miles before finding somewhere flat enough for our tents. Because we got a late start, most of the climb in was also completed in the dark. Fortunately, we had a pretty good amount of moonlight, which created a beautiful effect on the overlapping mountain ridges around us. <br />
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The boys of the group ready to set out!(Pablo, Chris, Craig)</div>
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Craig in his usual camouflage<br />
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The next morning, we continued the hike up the remaining steep trail to lake basin. The wildflowers were in full bloom for this portion of the hike, surrounding us with flecks of yellows, oranges, and purples . </div>
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So this is what it looks like in daylight. Not a bad place to camp for the first night. </div>
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Completing the morning ascent to Lake of Angels. </div>
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The final push...our crew are the tiny dots of non-green to the left </div>
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A sea of beargrass. </div>
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We reach the Lake of Angels basin!<br />
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Even at high elevations in the coastal range mountains, the temperatures were soaring. The lake, in addition to providing a reliable drinking water source, provided an oasis for swimming that made the trip much more enjoyable. </div>
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Within minutes of arriving at the lake, we were greeted by a pack of mountain goats that were obviously accustomed to human traffic. The whole time we were there, they did laps around the lake, waiting for us to leave so they could raid our goods. </div>
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Chris finding sunken treasures in the lake.<br />
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Mountain goats coming out to play...</div>
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Chris fishing, but keeping one eye on the mountain goat... </div>
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Escaping the heat </div>
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Mountain goat babies! </div>
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They're so cute as babies!<br />
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In addition to the mountain goats, we were welcomed by one of my favorite animals, the marmot! This one in particular had a very light blonde coating and sounded the alarm when the goats would get too close to his territory. What a loud whistle they have!</div>
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A blonde marmot sounding the alarm warning of intruders!<br />
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After swimming, some of us continued up the mountain toward the peak of Mt. Stone. Getting there proved to be a challenge with lots of scrambling involved. Due to the difficulty and time spent trying to reach the peak, most of us only made it to an un-named summit, which we affectionately declared Mt. Destroyer, just below Mt. Stone. Pablo, determined to not stop here, continued on to the Mt. Stone, while we sat watching under the only shade we could find. </div>
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The views even from 'Mt. Destroyer' were fantastic. We could see several snow-capped peaks in the heart of the Olympics and many other summits beckoning for a visit. </div>
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Chris scaling a knife edge on the way to Mt. Destroyer and Mt. Stone. </div>
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Looking down at our camp site and Lake of Angels </div>
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Looking toward more of the Olympic Mountain peaks...some still with snow! </div>
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Selfie with the Olympic Mountains </div>
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Chris working an over the shoulder pose. </div>
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We watch as Pablo demonstrates how to quickly dominate Mt. Stone (highest summit in the middle).</div>
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Lots of scree.<br />
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That evening we again found ourselves drawn the lake's waters and shoreline, swimming and trout fishing. When the sun began to sink below the mountain cirque, we climbed over a neighboring ridge to look down at the lights of Tacoma before retiring to our tents for the night.</div>
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Like the marmot, I sound the alarm that an intruder is in the perimeter. </div>
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Enjoying the sunset looking toward the city lights of Tacoma<br />
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While we had originally planned to squeeze in another summit the following morning, tired legs and storm clouds governed our decision to head back down the mountain early. Another weekend of mountains, wildlife, and good friends in the books. Success!</div>
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Mama and baby </div>
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Morning clouds and thunder roll in. </div>
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The group with our goat-fur flag. </div>
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Hiking down a hillside full of wildflowers </div>
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Making our way down the very steep trail.</div>
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<br />Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-42777547831092478952015-05-30T12:11:00.001-07:002015-05-30T12:26:16.947-07:00Weekend in Victoria, BCAh, Victoria...the capital city of British Columbia, a culture filled with a bright mix of eccentric, friendly people, a foodie's dreams, and a city that quickly escalated to one of my favorite places to visit. Craig and I took the Victoria Clipper from Seattle to Victoria on the long Memorial Day weekend. Taking only our bikes and what would fit in our panniers, we planned for a relaxing three days of checking out the capital and the surrounding area on our faithful, two-wheeled steeds.<br />
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The Clipper, although a little pricey at ~$150 round trip each, was a very easy way to get to Vancouver Island. Not only did we not have to drive the +4.5 hours, but we also would have to deal with border patrol and parking. Although we were in the last group to board, we got seats in the second row from the front with a great view out the bow windows. The seats were roomy and comfortable and we were able to walk around the ship at our leisure. It was also large enough that we didn't feel much motion from the water so I didn't get my usual sea sickness! <br />
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looking out, heading north</div>
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The view on the ferry.</div>
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I tried waking Craig to tell him we were crossing the Straight of Juan de Fuca, but he didn't much care. haha</div>
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As we arrived in Victoria Harbor, I think I used the word 'adorable' to describe the scene about 10 times before we disembarked the ship. The harbor was surrounded by Victorian buildings and waterfront businesses with lots of vegetation built into the urban landscape. Small sail boats and tour vessels zipped around the bay. You could tell it was a city, but it had a very small, British feel to it. Have I mentioned how adorable it was? </div>
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Once off the boat, we spent the day pretty much eating our way through the delicious city and checking out the amiable downtown atmosphere. </div>
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View of downtown from Victoria Harbor</div>
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View of downtown Victoria with an artisan market</div>
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Having tea at one of our favorite places to eat, Rebar.</div>
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Biking through downtown Victoria</div>
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Lounging outside the British Columbia Parliament Buildings</div>
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Dichotomy of cultures in the PNW</div>
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A one bunny-marimba-band playing cover songs. He goes by Thump 'R Bunny! Street performers are the greatest!</div>
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Craig gets a Manhattan in a Mason jar....with a lime.</div>
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We stayed in a room we found on AirBnB. It
was a great find and the homeowners whipped us up a delicious breakfast
each morning with eggs from their backyard chickens. They also provided
homemade soaps and kombucha! </div>
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Creative landscaping</div>
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The next morning, we rode our bikes ~60 miles north of Victoria to the town of Sidney along the Lochside trail and looped back along the west side of the peninsula. It was a mostly flat, but peaceful ride transitioning from urban to forested wetlands, to agricultural farmlands, and finally to seaside towns. The drivers in the area seemed very accepting of bicyclists and I found it to be one of the easiest, stress-free places to get around via bike. </div>
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Enjoying breakfast from the girls (peeking out in the background) before our bikeride</div>
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A wetland along the bike trail.</div>
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Tunnel!</div>
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Craig walking along the water during a break in our bike ride.</div>
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We saw lots of totem poles around Victoria. </div>
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A pet sheep a the road side farm house where we had lunch.</div>
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Looking out at one of the many bays we passed. We got a few rain drops after this photo was taken.</div>
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Biking in Sidney, BC.</div>
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Sea planes were a common site. This one just came in for a landing.</div>
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Biking through a painted tunnel. I love it when communities add a local flair to an otherwise boring, concrete tunnel.</div>
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Making our way back to Victora.</div>
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More tunnel paintings.</div>
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Good words to live by.</div>
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Our last day was brief, but spent mostly in the tiny Chinatown area of Victoria sampling teas and eating. We didn't have time for much else as we had to board the boat after lunch to return to Seattle.<br />
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A tiny China town where we had lunch before leaving for the U.S. </div>
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Boarding the Clipper to head back to Washington</div>
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On the deck of the Clipper with Canada behind us.</div>
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Our time in Victoria, though brief, was very relaxing. I'm not usually much of a city explorer when I go on trips, but this friendly, low-key, tea-loving, free-spirited place was an exception. I found an immediate and subconscious sense of happiness here and think it is definitely a place I could see myself living someday. I can't wait to return to the area and explore some of the other gorgeous places on Vancouver Island and throughout British Columbia.<br />
<br />Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004170669216177424.post-79085499725900368032015-05-16T23:25:00.000-07:002015-05-29T23:26:24.745-07:00Driving Ms. Millie: A cloudy hike on Johnson RidgeI got to be a dog person for the weekend! Becoming a dog owner is something I aspire to do one day, but my schedule and plans for the immediate future don't permit it for the time being. Until the day comes, I soak up my pooch time doggy sitting for friends when they're out of town. On Saturday, Millie (the dog) and I loaded up in the car and headed to the North Cascades for a hike at Johnson Ridge, which boasts spectacular mountain views with low crowds.<br />
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At over 2 hours, the drive there from Seattle was a long one. Not to mention I have the worst sense of direction of anyone I know and managed to get quickly turned around on the logging roads leading to the trail head. <br />
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It became quickly apparent as we got further into the mountains that the Cascade mountain views advertised on online message boards was probably not going to happen. In fact, we were so socked in by clouds that I was pretty sure we weren't going to see anything beyond the immediate trail.<br />
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road to the trail</div>
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Camas coming up for spring</div>
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the forest becomes foggy soon after we start the hike</div>
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Although the vistas never appeared, it was a fun hike with typical spring weather conditions for the Pacific Northwest. For most of the hike, we walked in a low cloud layer, which had a dramatic effect on the surrounding trees, dripping continuously from mist condensing on the branches. </div>
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My favorite part was Millie's reaction to the snow. Every time we saw a patch of snow on the trail, she would dive face-first into it and roll around over and over again. Her unbridled excitement for snow was infectious and I spent most of the hike laughing at her and imagining what she could be thinking.</div>
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We came across several hillside meadows along the way that I imagine are bursting with wildflowers in the summer. We only saw a few patches of early flowers this early in the season and much of the grass was still beat down from the winter snow pack. I'm looking forward to getting back up to this trail this summer to see the trail from another perspective.</div>
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Millie loving the snow</div>
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What a view!</div>
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Millie rolled in every snow patch we encountered.</div>
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foggy trees</div>
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Walking along the ridgeline</div>
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We come across a meadow...too early for flowers.</div>
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Moisture dripping from the trees.</div>
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Millie on the trail!</div>
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After many tries, I finally got her to look at the camera!</div>
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<br />Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17016915979637683709noreply@blogger.com